Cats in Art: Bushman Art (Unknown Prehistoric Artist)

From my continuing weekly Sunday series of cats in art. Currently I'm using some prehistoric art, triggered by finally seeing "Cave of Forgotten Dreams" which depicts 30,000 year old art in Chauvet Cave, France.

 

Image credit Colin-Paterson Jones, here, via Goggle Images

 

Title:  011208CPJed MG 0660 - Bushman art in the Eastern Cape Drakensberg near Barkly East, South Africa

 

Description:  Bushman painting of a lion in a Cave Sandstone rock overhang in the mountains at Balloch in the Eastern Cape Drakensberg near Barkly East, South Africa

 

This image is identified as a lion, but to me it is distinctly cheetah-like.  The l-o-n-g tail gives it away.

I love this image, because it is SO reminiscent of last week's mountain lion rock shelter image.  The two cats are almost identical literal mirror images of each other (this one facing right and last week's mountain lion facing left), although they are separated by an ocean and by a vast cultural divide.

In both cases we see the same lithe power and speed....and danger.  These kitties were nothing to be trifled with.