Figure c. 900

carving, sculpture

portrait

carving

figuration

form

sculpture

prehistoric

indigenous-americas

This small Olmec jade figure, dating back to c. 900, is a testament to the artistic mastery of the Mesoamerican civilization. Carved with a distinctive, stylized human form, the sculpture features a prominent head with large eyes and a flat, rectangular face. Its simplified, geometric features and the use of jade, a material considered sacred by the Olmecs, suggest its importance in ritual and religious contexts. The figure, now housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, offers valuable insight into the aesthetics and beliefs of this ancient civilization.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

⋮

Each jade object made by the artists of the Olmec culture is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Jade was hard to find, even harder to carve, and it was valued above all other materials by this ancient Mexican civilization. This figure depicts a were-jaguar, a supernatural being with both human and jaguar aspects. The were-jaguar was a powerful spirit who controlled rain and storms, as well as the growth of maize, the staple crop of the Olmec. This sculpture, used for ritual purposes, would have been carved for a member of the elite. The head is unusually large in proportion to the body, as it was believed to be the focus of spiritual force. The jaguar elements are most visible in the face, and include a short broad nose and a strongly down-turned mouth with heavy, feline lips.