Bowl 

This bowl was created sometime between 1300 and 1521 by an Aztec artist. Its red surface and bold, black decorations reflect the aesthetics of its time and place. Consider how geography, religion, social class, and politics may have influenced the artwork. The Aztecs had a complex social structure, with a strict hierarchy and a powerful ruling class. The bowl could be a signifier of status, used in rituals or ceremonies that reinforced the authority of the elite. The bowl also reflects the advanced artistic and technical skills of the Aztecs. It might be seen as a critique of the colonial narratives that often portray indigenous cultures as primitive or backward. Studying the bowl through historical sources, such as codices, archaeological reports, and ethnographies, can offer valuable insights into the social and institutional context in which it was made. As art historians, we seek to understand art as a product of its time, shaped by the forces of culture and history.