The painting of a wounded bison attacking a man is located in the Lascaux Cave in France and dates back to an era between 16,000-14,000 BCE known as the Upper Paleolithic period. The injured bison is depicted in vivid detail while the man is portrayed in stick-figure form. The exact explanation for the painting remains unknown as it is just one section of a more extensive series of art found in the cave complex.
In Spain’s Altamira Cave, a similar painting known as the Altamira Bison dates back from about 17000 BCE to 12000 BCE. This artwork is part of a series of stunning paintings portraying animals and symbols, with the meaning of the symbols still a mystery. Another fascinating artwork in Lascaux is the Lascaux Shaft scene. This scene is the most puzzling of all the paintings in the Lascaux Cave and features monochrome figures in a deep pit at the back of the Apse section.
During the Upper Paleolithic period, the ancient artists had to rely on makeshift lights to work in the dark cave environments. These artists survived by hunting and gathering food and were highly skilled in their craft. The paintings of wounded bison attacking a man, Altamira Bison, and Lascaux Shaft are remarkable examples of the exceptional artistic skills of the prehistoric era.
