Final answer:
The creation of man-made tools dates back to about 2.6 million years ago, while the first undisputed art is from the Upper Paleolithic, around 40,000 years ago. There is, however, evidence of earlier aesthetic sense and proto-artistic behavior. Overall, tool making predates recognized art by a considerable margin, although some overlap exists with early art-like expressions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that man created tools and the first art close to the same time is partially true, depending on how one defines "first art." The earliest known human-made stone tools date from about 2.6 million years ago, likely created by Homo habilis. These tools, known as Oldowan tools, signify a significant leap in human engineering ability. In contrast, the earliest undisputed art dates from the Upper Paleolithic period, which began around 40,000 years ago. However, there's evidence from the Middle Paleolithic suggesting a sense of aesthetics, which some archaeologists interpret as early artistic expression. Thus, while tool creation certainly predates what is widely recognized as art, there could be an overlap with more abstract or symbolic forms of expression that could qualify as proto-art.
During the Upper Paleolithic, a wide variety of diverse and representational art was produced, including cave paintings, portable necklaces, and figurines. The transition to behaviorally modern humans marked by the making of such art occurred relatively close in time to the practice of creating more advanced tools, like those from the Gravettian tool industry, which also sometimes served as art. Indeed, as illustrated throughout human evolution, both tool use and creativity in the form of art have consistently featured in the journey of mankind.