In 2018, the discovery of the oldest known cave painting on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi shattered the long-standing European belief that the earliest artistic expressions emerged solely from Southern Europe.
This remarkable find — a depiction of a wild boar alongside human-like figures — was dated to around 50,000 years ago, challenging the idea that iconic European sites like the Lascaux and Niaux caves in France held the oldest examples of figurative art.
But the significance of this discovery goes far beyond reshaping the timeline of prehistoric art. It offers powerful evidence that early humans were capable of narrative thinking and visual communication — core skills that remain essential in art to this day.
Why Cave Art Belongs in the History of Art
Although cave paintings are primarily studied by archaeologists and anthropologists, many art critics argue that they deserve a central place in the history of art itself.
These early depictions of animals, humans, and landscapes represent the first known instances of visual storytelling — a practice that continues today in painting, film, comics, and beyond. They reveal not just what early humans saw, but how they thought and interpreted the world around them.
Professor Maxime Aubert of Griffith University in Australia has emphasized that these creations demonstrate abstract thinking, underscoring their importance in the development of the human mind.
Storytelling, which today takes the form of literature, theater, and cinema, was just as vital for our prehistoric ancestors as it is for us now. Through these early images, they communicated ideas, fears, beliefs, and knowledge — passing them from one generation to the next.
The True Legacy of Human Creativity
Art is not — and never has been — an exclusively European phenomenon. Expressiveness, the use of color, and the pursuit of perspective are not Western inventions; they are intrinsic to the human spirit.
From the cave paintings of Indonesia and Africa to the vibrant murals of the Aztecs and the intricate sculptures of the Chinese dynasties, art has always been a global language — one deeply entwined with what it means to be human.
By recognizing the value of non-European art traditions, we not only enrich our understanding of human history, but also give due respect to the cultural roots shared by all of humanity.
