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Art Principles and History

Prehistoric Art

What is twisted perspective?

Many of the animals depicted in the Lascaux Caves, both predators and prey, are shown in profile, which means the viewer is looking at the side of the animal and only one half of the face can be seen. Some animals have been manipulated, however, using a fairly sophisticated technique called twisted perspective. Twisted perspective is created by showing most of the animal’s body in profile, but turning a portion of the animal’s head so that it seems to point directly at the viewer. This technique adds drama and energy to the image and results in a life-like depiction of an animal. In one example, an antlered deer is shown mostly in profile, but its antlers appear to swing powerfully towards the viewer.



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