The Cave Painters by Gregory Curtis

The Cave Painters by Gregory Curtis

The Cave Painters is a vivid introduction to the spectacular cave paintings of France and Spain--the individuals who rediscovered them, theories about their origins, their splendor and mystery.

Gregory Curtis makes us see the astonishing sophistication and power of the paintings and tells us what is known about their creators, the Cro-Magnon people of some 40,000 years ago. He takes us through various theories--that the art was part of fertility or hunting rituals, or used for religious purposes, or was clan mythology--examining the ways interpretations have changed over time. Rich in detail, personalities, and history, The Cave Painters is above all permeated with awe for those distant humans who developed--perhaps for the first time--both the ability for abstract thought and a profound and beautiful way to express it.

From 1981 to 2000, Gregory Curtis was the editor of Texas Monthly. His work has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, Fortune, Time, and Rolling Stone. He is a Rice University and San Francisco State University graduate who now resides in Austin with his wife and four children.