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vanessakm's review against another edition
5.0
I came to this book by way of Werner Herzog's exceptional cave-painting documentary Cave of Forgotten Dreams, which really is the mind-blowing, overwhelming emotional experience that all the reviews proclaim it to be. I never was that interested in Paleolithic cave painting, but now I am a little obsessed with it.
This book is meticulously assembled by Jean Clottes, a world-renowned expert in cave art who makes a small appearance in the Herzog film (alas, he's not the guy in the animal pelt playing "Star-Spangled Banner" on a bone flute. I want to marry that guy.) It's a work of art in itself. Beautiful and abundant full-color pictures of cave paintings and sculptures mostly from Europe-95% of found cave paintings are in France and Spain-but also Africa and Australia. The accompanying text provides lots of information but also lets the art speak for itself. Included in the abundant reference materials are maps of some of the most famous caves (Lascaux, Niaux, Chauvet) and a list of sites that are open to the public.
I am in love with this labor of love. Considering that some of these sites, like Chauvet, are not open to the public this is your best chance to see them with a charismatic expert guide.
This book is meticulously assembled by Jean Clottes, a world-renowned expert in cave art who makes a small appearance in the Herzog film (alas, he's not the guy in the animal pelt playing "Star-Spangled Banner" on a bone flute. I want to marry that guy.) It's a work of art in itself. Beautiful and abundant full-color pictures of cave paintings and sculptures mostly from Europe-95% of found cave paintings are in France and Spain-but also Africa and Australia. The accompanying text provides lots of information but also lets the art speak for itself. Included in the abundant reference materials are maps of some of the most famous caves (Lascaux, Niaux, Chauvet) and a list of sites that are open to the public.
I am in love with this labor of love. Considering that some of these sites, like Chauvet, are not open to the public this is your best chance to see them with a charismatic expert guide.
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