The earliest paintings, dating back over 32,000 years, were recently restored in stunning 6K for a re-release of Werner Herzog's Cave of Forgotten Dreams. In this 3D documentary, the Chauvet Cave feels as alien and intimate as ever. Critics marvel at the detail, likening it to 'licking the cave walls'.

Herzog didn't set out to make a 3D film; his desire to capture the three-dimensional nature of the paintings in their original setting drove him. The challenge was creating custom 3D cameras that could fit into the narrow, intricate caves. Today, it's hard to imagine such a feat without modern technology.

The restoration process for IMAX involves rebuilding frames and audio from raw footage. It’s a meticulous task, with Stewart describing it as 'mind blowing' even after over 100 viewings. The clarity of the restored film ensures that Cave of Forgotten Dreams remains 'completely fresh', even years later.

In this age of rapid technological change, it's fascinating to see how far we've come in preserving and presenting our earliest artistic expressions. Herzog’s vision captures a moment in time when humanity began to express itself through art, and now, through technology, that expression is more vivid than ever.