Lascaux IV in Montignac, France may be a museum with a reproduction of the nearby original cave; its tricolor painted surfaces from “prehistory” now dated as 19,000 years ago….but it is just as amazing as visiting a real cave! The accuracy of the cave’s space and the integrity of the color palate of the mark making is phenomenal thanks to imaging techniques that allowed the entire cave to be recreated in 31 months. And photos are allowed and you’re not causing any damage to the art with your co2 emissions and you can take all the time you want to enjoy the way the lines are featured on the uneven wall surfaces and appreciate the sophistication of the craftsmanship and materials used and be in a climate controlled environment yourself. Finally, this repro may be all we will have left if the original cave is actually continuing to decay as we expect it is.
Two horses going right in 3 colors; another horse upside down wraps around a corner so could not have been seen at the same time by the artist/ the large bellies of the horses are likely because of the breed.
The line drawings are repetitive not because the artist didn’t know where to put the lines, but because of the flickering lamp light that makes the horses look like they are animated…they can be seen in concert with each other rather than as agitated or aggressive….
the anatomy or the animals is remarkable and fits the contours of the limestone rocks so well, it is easy to think there are paintings where none exist….
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