Figure of a man with an urn on his back 200 - 700

This earthenware figure of a man with an urn on his back was created by an artist from Colima, a pre-Columbian society in modern-day Mexico. The sculpture shows a male figure carrying a large vessel, likely for water or perhaps even human remains. What does it mean to carry the weight of such a vessel? The man’s posture, bent under the load, speaks to burdens carried, both literal and symbolic. The smooth, reddish-brown surface has a tactile quality, inviting a connection with the figure. The Colima were known for their ceramic works, often found in burial sites. The urn’s presence raises questions about mortality, memory, and the cycle of life. Consider the individual stories embedded within the clay. Whose labor formed it, whose life does it represent, and what beliefs and rituals surrounded its creation? These echoes of the past remind us of shared human experiences.