painting, alongside its decorative counterparts, tracing the journey of this art form from its primitive origins to the Renaissance and beyond. The opening of the text introduces the purpose and structure of the book, explaining the need for a condensed history of painting suitable for educational contexts. Van Dyke outlines the key themes that will be explored, including the origins of painting, the division into decorative and expressive styles, and an anticipation of the detailed discussions that will follow on various cultures, starting with Egyptian painting. He emphasizes the historical significance of these early forms of art as records of human experience and societal values, setting the stage for a deeper analysis of how painting has developed in tandem with civilization. (This is an automatically generated summary.)