The discovery of prehistoric decorated caves in western Europe transformed the way we think about the development of art. The earliest known evidence of human artistic endeavour, the awe-inspiring paintings, dramatic engravings and small, delicate sculptures of animals and humans found in these caves still hold a unique power and fascination, more than a century after they were first discovered.

In this book, internationally renowned expert on prehistoric art Jean Clottes explores the origins of art and creativity. He takes the reader on a guided tour of 85 caves and rock shelters, many of which are not open to the public, revealing the extraordinary beauty of the works of art within them. Cave Art features more than 300 works from the Palaeolithic period, made between 35,000 and 11,000 years ago, presented in geographical and chronological order.

This comprehensive, accessible introduction to prehistoric art includes such spectacular works as the famous horses of Lascaux, the bison in the Altamira cave in Spain and the ivory carving of a woman's face found at Brassempouy in the south of France, as well as examples from less well-known sites. While most of the caves described in the book are European, Cave Art also includes examples of open-air rock art made after the last ice age at sites around the world.

Each work in Cave Art is illustrated by a colour photograph, and accompanied by a clear, vivid explanatory text. The book also includes a chronology, maps of the main caves and sites, a glossary and a list of sites that can be visited. With an unparalleled selection of images, Cave Art offers a unique guided tour of the earliest expressions of human creativity.