Similar to tress, mountains and other natural motifs, the history of animals in art goes back to the first recorded cases of Paleolithic cave painting. This is perhaps most notably seen in the caves of Lascaux, France, where 17,000-year-old renderings such as The Great Hall of Bulls can still be seen today. Animals have been a frequent subject matter for artists and artisans ever since, appearing in various movements and styles throughout of the course of human history. Slinking felines are found on the walls of Egyptian tombs and hunting hounds graced the regal canvases of 18th century oil paintings. …
Similar to tress, mountains and other natural motifs, the history of animals in art goes back to the first recorded cases of Paleolithic cave painting. This is perhaps most notably seen in the caves of Lascaux, France, where 17,000-year-old renderings such as The Great Hall of Bulls can still be seen today. Animals have been a frequent subject matter for artists and artisans ever since, appearing in various movements and styles throughout of the course of human history. Slinking felines are found on the walls of Egyptian tombs and hunting hounds graced the regal canvases of 18th century oil paintings. Contemporary artists continue to incorporate animals into their work as psychological symbols, allegories, companions and playmates. This includes the sculptural stuffed animals of Mike Kelley, the naturalistic paintings of Walton Ford, and the bulbous beasts of Fernando Botero.