Standing Female Figure c. 1200

This sculpture of a standing female figure was made from ceramic by a Tlatilco artist sometime in the first millennium BCE. We can consider this work as part of a wider cultural context. Mesoamerican cultures like the Tlatilco placed a high value on fertility and regeneration. Standing at around 19cm, the figurine is relatively small in scale. It is possible that it was a votive offering, interred as a dedication to the gods, or it could be an early example of sympathetic magic, intended to act as a proxy for a healthy woman. We know that in Tlatilco society, women held important social roles. By studying archaeological reports and anthropological studies, we can deepen our understanding of the culture that produced such work, and consider the politics of imagery in a world that is very different from our own.