Petroglyph - Human Figures 1935 - 1942

Lala Eve Rivol made this print called Petroglyph - Human Figures, though we don’t have the exact date. It presents an arrangement of what looks like ancient art. But what are we to make of an artist who takes inspiration from pre-historic art? Here, the layering of cultural meaning becomes complex. How do we view an image that is itself a copy of images made by unknown artists? The very question of authenticity is called into question. Perhaps the most valuable approach to such a work is to consider how it participates in specific cultural and institutional histories. We might ask, what function does the museum serve in preserving and authenticating cultural heritage, and what role does an artist play in interpreting it? These are questions that require research into museum archives and the history of art collecting. By asking them, we come to understand that the meaning of art is always contingent on its social context.