The rennes se suivant: A Recurrent Image Association from the Magdalenian Culture

Abstract

What is referred to here as the rennes se suivant is a line of images, by far the most common type of image associa-tions found on Magdalenian artifacts, of which at least four examples exist. Showing a reindeer male pursuing a female, this is one of the rare lines where the intention to represent a true scene is more evident due to the com-bination of anatomical and behavioral traits selected by their makers. While the seasonal meaning of the scene represented is unmistakable, the most prominent feature of this image association is a decoration found in all female images, which has been identified with the stylized rendition of a coat spotting pattern called Pepper’s patches. This is not a seasonal character and points to a more complex symbolic meaning and use of the rennes se suivant than a simple seasonal marker. This work will review the evidence that this image association was meant to represent a true scene, define its seasonal meaning, and follow a trail of subtle clues pointing to its symbolic meaning and use, drawing on two related series of reindeer images and more examples previously described as representing different species for additional evidence. The resulting theory will find its place in a new framework for the interpretation of Magdalenian visual creations along with two other theories that reveal the same underly-ing concern for keeping track of time by means of what we call art.