The Evolution of the Paleolithic Female Image of the 'Artifex Intelligens Feminina'

Abstract

Paleolithic art evolved from simple figurative representations; it signified the transition from Homo inspiciens to Artifex inspiciens. Later, Aurignacian primary sexual characteristics were replaced by Gravettian female figures with their secondary sexual characteristics highlighted. The postpartum period of raising the newborn, which defines secondary altriciality, explains their relevance. These images could be called Altricial Venus due to their intention to reflect the essential feminine sexual traits needed to bring children to their own fertile stage. The reasons for this substantial progress must be found in an evolution due to learning, which is responsible for intellectual development. It is based on inferences that link the cause and the effect of any event, and cognitive evolution expanded the time interval between them due to two factors: social environment and intuition. They provided a prior common cultural environment and the creative spark from the unconscious. This was the leap from Artifex inspiciens to Artifex intelligens, and as women participated in the first images of art, then we could also say Artifex feminina.

Keywords

• paleolithic art; secondary altriciality; cognitive development; female artist