Bowl c. 1450

This ceramic bowl was created by the Hisatsinom, or Ancestral Hopi. The bowl is made of earthenware and painted with pigment. It is relatively small, only three inches high and less than nine inches in diameter. The interior of the bowl features geometric designs and stylized depictions of animals, all rendered in bold black lines against the light background. The composition is divided into distinct segments, each containing different imagery, which creates a dynamic tension between abstract patterns and representational elements. We can see here a dialogue between symbolic forms and the natural world, suggesting the interconnectedness of cultural beliefs and environmental realities. This piece destabilizes traditional notions of utility by transforming a functional object into a canvas for artistic and symbolic expression. It also challenges our understanding of art as separate from everyday life.