Standing Female Figure c. 200

This Standing Female Figure was made by the Nayarit people of ancient Mexico, using terracotta. Terracotta is a humble material, literally baked earth. The artist would have gathered the clay, formed it, and then fired it in a kiln. The figure's surface is worn, with traces of pigment suggesting it was once brightly colored. Although the figure now lacks arms, they were likely created separately and attached after firing. Her mouth is open, maybe in speech or song. Clay is one of humanity’s oldest materials, associated with everyday objects, but also with high-status sculpture. In Nayarit culture, these figures were often placed in tombs, suggesting their importance in ritual life. Making a figure like this involved considerable labor, from digging the clay, to the hand-building and firing. It also required technical knowledge, showing mastery over the transformation of raw materials through fire. By considering the processes and materials behind this figure, we can appreciate the skill, labor, and cultural significance embedded within it, and question our contemporary distinctions between art and craft.