I never realized how substantial a simple cave drawing could be. It’s hard to grasp the concept that this was the first art created in pre-historical times. The artists behind the work are, in fact, the cavemen and they, as with anyone else, have their own personal style. The picture below is a print of a caveartist's hands. This was their way of signing their work. The majority of their drawings consist of their representations of animals. These animals vary in species, but all have one distinguishing quality- they are only drawn from side view. I found this particularly interesting, as well as the fact that a background is nonexistent in their art. The people and animals are floating on the cave walls, perhaps to suggest and symbolize that they led a nomadic lifestyle. Even though we do not know all the intentions behind the cavemen’s creations, we do realize that art has been around for a very long time.
Picture from http://www.students.sbc.edu/ogborn03/PrehistoricArt_files/image014.jpg
Who knew Egyptians were so artistic? Almost everything revolved around aesthetics and their religious beliefs. It was this meshing of art and meaning that made up the world around them. Take this mask of Pharaoh Tutenkhamen for example: it was intricately designed by an artisan to honor the pharaoh, who they regarded as gods, to preserve and adorn him in the afterlife. There are many other examples of Egyptian artwork incorporating a religious significance. I think looking at Egyptian art is a great way to learn about their culture. You can determine so much about the way they lived and thought simply by examining the tombs, monuments, structures, and heiroglyphs they made. 
