(Cave Paintings - Font-de-Gaume Bull Bison)

John William Winkler

After the drawings of Paleolithic cave paintings in France and Spain done by archeologist Henri 'Abbe' Beuil (French: 1877-1965). Breuil was the first person to determine their age and methodically document the works, using a 38'-long sheet of paper.

This bison is part of a frieze found in the Font-de-Gaume caves of Dordogne, France. The frieze contains several large bison carved into a portion of cave wall that bulges outward, seeming to intentionally lend the animals three dimenions. These were also painted, but the pigment is nearly entirely gone. Breuil took some informed artistic liberties with the color, using surrounding works for reference. Here, Winkler faithfully recreates Bueil's work by hand, lending a worn softness to the work.