The History of Drawing

The need to illustrate his surroundings has long been a hallmark of the human. Some claims suggest that our ancestors were drawing on the walls of their caves 35,000 years ago – embellishing the rocks with pictures of the animals that they hunted for food and clothing. Examples of such early artistry can still be found all over the world.

Ancient Egyptians are believed to have dramatically advanced the art of drawing. Renowned as incredibly skilled engineers for their work in building imposing temples and the legendary pyramids, the Egyptians decorated their architectural achievements with meticulous and colourful drawings of theological figures and other icons. Their drawing work featured careful detail together with colour and balance.

In the sixth century BC, the Greeks became the new representatives of balance in drawing – they introduced