It’s hard to say what the oldest form of artistic expression truly is, but thanks to the shelter provided by caves around the world, we can find painted works dating back to over 60,000 years ago. Deep in places like the famous Lascaux caves, these early paintings are protected from the seasonal storms and temperature fluctuations that would have quickly wiped away the simple pigment-based paints.
Handprints found in the Cueva de las Manos, Santa Cruz, Argentina. Photo credit: Mariano Cecowski via Wikipedia.These pigments were used to depict everything from hunting scenes, cryptic symbols, and splash handprints on dark cave walls. One of the oldest cave paintings found to date is a red handprint in modern-day Spain and dates to over than 64,000 years ago [1]. Though we tend to think that only humans are capable of artistic expression, this print was made by a Neanderthal, a cousin to Homo sapiens sapiens that went extinct some 40,000 years ago.
Likewise, artifact no. 00001 isn’t exactly what it seems. A small painting, only xx cm square, it features splashes of green, gold, and pink across a white background in an abstract style. The paint daubs seem to stretch in a single direction, pulled rather than brushed. Though a case might not be made for fine art status, the piece is nonetheless beautiful and a charming bit of home decor based on its size and colourfulness. In a sea of mass-produced cheap prints and reproductions, this artwork is a real painting made with acrylics on canvas.
The creation of artifact No. 00001. A collaboration between Jillian Logee and her dog, Mouse.Similar to the earliest cave painting, this Artifact No. 1 was not entirely human-made, but instead a collaboration between myself and my dog, Mouse. One lazy afternoon, I prepped the canvas by dropping a smattering of paints onto its surface, before placing it into a sealed zipper bag that was covered in peanut butter on the outside. Ensuring that Mouse couldn’t accidentally ingest any paint, I set her loose on the peanut butter bounty, letting her lick up her favourite treat, while her also moved the paint around on the inside of the bag. My little husky-malamute mix had no idea she was creating something that would last long after her death, a beautiful artwork that fits in nicely in my mid-century modern styled home.
Mouse Logee, a husky-malamute mix breed dog who lived from 2005 to 2023.This piece is of course sentimental to me and one of the few things I would grab in the event of a house fire. It is unlikely to make its way into high-art circles or a museum, but its size and charm make me think that someday, someone else might appreciate it, too, even if they don’t know its full story. Art is inherently subjective, but painted works hold a perceived value that can far outstrip other art forms. This alone means that paintings, sometimes regardless of provenance, are more likely not just to be salvaged, but treasured, changing hands over generations as they find new appreciators.
It is very possible that years after this painting leaves my wall, it will make its way onto the walls of other homes, still admired for its pops of colour.
References Cited:
[1] D. L. Hoffmann; C.D. Standish; M. García-Diez; P.B. Pettitt; J. A. Milton; J. Zilhão; J.J. Alcolea-González; P. Cantalejo-Duarte; H. Collado; R. de Balbín; M. Lorblanchet; J. Ramos-Muñoz; G.-Ch. Weniger; A.W.G. Pike (2018). “U-Th dating of carbonate crusts reveals Neandertal origin of Iberian cave art“. Science. 359 (6378): 912–915.
