Lascaux Cave Paintings

Lascaux is a network of caves in southwestern France. Over 600 parietal wall paintings cover its walls. Caves with commitment issues.

On 12 September 1940, 18-year-old Marcel Ravidat found the entrance when his dog investigated a hole. Good boy.

Ravidat returned with three friends and entered through a 15-metre-deep shaft.

The paintings represent primarily large animals. There are 364 equines among nearly 6,000 figures.

By 1955, contaminants produced by 1,200 visitors per day had visibly damaged the paintings.

The original cave was closed to the public in 1963. Replicas now stand about 400 m away.

One painted bull stretches over five metres.

In the mid-20th century, Pablo Picasso visited and said we have learned nothing in 12,000 years. He never tried drawing a bison tail-to-tail.