Why are animals in art?

Question

Im doing a project in animals in art? For the intro im saying why are they in art

Heres What i got soo far:

Animals are portrayed in different ways to represent different things.

OK THATS ALL HELP!!!!

Answer 1

Well, there really is no single reason.  But one of them is what you're saying, animals are used symbolically.

For example, the little dog in van Eyck, "Arnolfini Wedding", is supposed to symbolize fidelity.

The study of this sort of symbolism in art is called iconography; you might be able to find websites or books that could fill you in with more examples like the one I just gave you.  Seems to me that the hot periods in history for this sort of animal iconography were the Renaissance and the Neoclassic.

Answer 2

In my opinion animals were initially represented in early art due to the fact that although they were like us humans, they were not the same and that fascinated us. A good example of animals in art are ancient cave paintings depicting the hunt...in that case the animals were pictured as a sort of reverence for providing us with food. Another excellent example would be animals depicted in egyptian art. The reason they are used in egyptian art is because they were believed to be gods or tools of the gods. Yet another form of reverence. Overall it is my belief animals are depicted in art out of respect and awe.

Hope this helps!

=)

Answer 3

did you see that art project where they starved a dog to death?that was sick