Artistic Reconstruction of the Palaeolithic in Works by Czech Artists: Development from the 19th Century to the Present
Abstract
Text discusses the development of artistic reconstruction of prehistoric life, especially in the Upper Palaeolithic, in the work of Czech artists from the 19th to the early 21st century. In the Czech environment, several generations of artists have worked on artistic reconstructions who have depicted the life and physical appearance of hominins and representatives of the Homo genus, including depiction of the natural ecosystem, flora and fauna.
These were a new type of artistic commissions that were supported by the gradually increasing knowledge in archaeology and anthropology. In many cases, artists worked with assumptions and archaeological fragments and imagery, opening up space for imagination, creative freedom or escape from the official artistic mainstream.
Interest in the Upper Palaeolithic grew in popularity in the 1920s. However, it was not until after the Second World War that there was an increase in the scientific professionalisation of artists who devoted their careers to reconstruction.