Vessel with Killer Whales c. 100 - 500

This vessel from the Nazca culture, dating back to between 100 and 500 CE, is a prime example of their mastery of ceramics. The globular, two-spouted form of the vessel is characteristic of Nazca pottery, and its painted decoration depicts two killer whales. The whales are rendered in a stylized, geometric fashion, with their bodies outlined in black and their fins and tails filled in with red and orange. The use of bold colors and geometric forms is typical of Nazca art, and the overall effect is both striking and visually dynamic. The vessel, now at the Art Institute of Chicago, demonstrates the technical sophistication and artistic expression of this ancient South American civilization.