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the Human Form: |
Cultures
West Mexico: Central Highlands Mexico: Southern Central Mexico: |
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The cultures of Ancient Mexico spent hundreds of years developing distinctive ways of creating the form of a human in clay and stone. These cultures, collectively know as Pre-Columbian, inhabited Mesoamerica and the Andes from 1500 B.C.E., before the arrival of Columbus, to the Spanish Conquest in 1519 C.E. Pre-Columbian objects include pieces of sculpture, ceramics, pottery, and stone that were created by these cultures. Most of the objects in this exhibition are from the Pre-Classic period of Pre-Columbian, Mesoamerican art. This period lasted from circa 1500 B.C.E.-300 C.E., years that held much innovation and experimentation for the cultures that resided in ancient Mexico. Many of the achievements of this period were extended and refined by later civilizations in Pre-Columbian history. The quality and craftsmanship of the artwork that arose from the Mesoamerican region is quite impressive, not only for its aesthetics, but also because of the simple technology used to create the figurines. The more sophisticated technology used by eastern civilizations at this time was unknown to the ancient Mexicans. Civilizations such as the ones developing in ancient Mesopotamia, China, India, and the Mediterranean world were using the potter’s wheel and metal tools to shape and craft their stonework and ceramics. In Mesoamerica, the potter’s wheel was only used as a toy and not for making pottery, and metal tools were rarely used. The primary material used by the Mesoamerican cultures was clay. It was fashioned and used for both household and ceremonial functions. The objects seen in this exhibition had a variety of purposes. Many were found in tombs in order to accompany the dead to the afterlife. Some may have been miniature idols of deities used for prayer and worship in the home, in shrines, and at temples. Some were simply toys for children. The objects found in this exhibition show many different ways in which the human form was viewed and created during Pre-Columbian times. The figures, both ceramic and stone, are stylized, meaning that their features are more simple and patterned than naturalistic. The clay figurines tend to have a lot of emphasis placed on gender specifications, distinctions of body type, and attention to ornamentation indicating role or status, such as jewelry, clothing, and pigmentation. The stone figurines place less emphasis on gender and pay more attention to the careful placement of lines and grooves to create abstract human features. The clay figurines in this exhibition were created using two basic methods in combination or solo: hand modeling and moulding. Most of the clay objects were hand-modeled, meaning that an artist had to craft every part of a figurine separately and put them together by hand. During the early Classic period, press-moulds were created, allowing the different cultures to mass-produce specific objects or the details of a specific set of figurines. The stone figurines in this exhibition were created by carving one hard stone with another. Metal tools were rarely used by the Pre-Columbian cultures, but these cultures fashioned stone tools and drills for use in creating stone figurines. Nancee Jaffe
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Central Highlands Mexico:
Tlatilco and Teotihuacan Clay Figurines
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The cultures of Tlatilco and Teotihuacan are located in the Central Highlands of Ancient Mexico. Although located in a similar region of Mexico, these two cultures developed at different times and in different ways. Tlatilco was a simple culture; their belongings were few and little evidence of organized religion with shamans and priests has been found. Teotihuacan culture, on the other hand, was highly modernized, being the first in all of Mesoamerica to become fully urbanized with a state level of political and religious organization as well as trading networks with other local tribes.
Although the economic and religious standings of these two cultures were strikingly different, the art that came out of these regions were equally unique and beautiful. The Tlatilco culture is known for its exquisite Dancer and Pretty Lady figurines, (2000.030.011 and 045), which show their versatility in creating the female form. The Teotihuacan culture created the Figurine with Wide-Band Headdress, (2000.030.010), which exhibits their unique way of ornamenting and depicting the human form.
Southern Central Mexico:
Mezcala/Guerrero
Stone Figurines
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The Guerrero/Mezcala region was situated in the central-south of ancient Mexico along the Mezcala River and Pacific Ocean. No known clay sculpture has come out of this region, but this area was known for the carving of Jadeite figurines and masks. The Axe Figurines, (2000.030.016 and .003), are great examples of the way the Mezcala culture abstracted the human form, using simple lines to display human features on stone. These sculptures were carved from very hard stones usually in a green, gray or brown color. The makers of Mezcala stone figurines had no metal tools to work with, only simple stone and obsidian drills and chisels, which makes the simplicity of their work quite an extraordinary feat. This culture, like most Pre-Columbian cultures, is basically a mystery with very few hard facts known about the meanings behind their art.
West Mexico:
Jalisco, Colima, Chupicuaro,
and Michoacan Clay Figurines
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The west Mexican art studied in this exhibit shows a range of the figurines created in this region. Each of the west Mexican states has given a name to a major figure type, but the lines that divide these cultures are presently blurred, making it difficult to associate particular artistic styles with specific regions. The Male Figurine with Shoulder Holes (2000.030.009) shown in this exhibit illustrates the classic facial features used in Jalisco art; having coffee bean eyes and a large, triangular nose. The two figures shown from Colima, the Shoulder-Pellet Figurine and the Male Figure with Crossing Arms, (2000.030.051, 008) are perfect examples of the famous cookie type solid figures from this region. The art from Michoacan and Chupicuaro is known for its distinctive hairstyles and figure shapes. The two shown in this exhibit are the Female Figurine with Large Belly and the Pregnant Female Figurine (2000.030.006, 012), of which both hold signature characteristics of the Michoacan/ Chupicuaro types: unique hairstyle, broad hips and ornamental jewelry. Similarities to look for between the art that comes from these main cultures of West Mexico are a broadness, or thickness to the body, especially the legs and a roundness to the shape of the figurines. |
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LOCATION:
2rd floor Gallery.
Curator: Nancee Jaffee, Student Curator, Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Willamette
University
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