Female Figure c. 500

This female figure was created by the Chupícuaro people in modern-day Mexico using ceramic materials. Although we lack specific dates for its creation, the Chupícuaro culture flourished between 500 BCE and 200 CE. The figure’s adornments, such as the headdress and necklace, indicate social status, and the fact that the figure is female tells us something about gender roles. What was the public role of women? The Chupícuaro people are known for their sophisticated pottery traditions, but the institutional history of that pottery production remains largely unknown. Is it possible that women were the primary creators and distributors of these wares? Perhaps the figure is a self-conscious depiction of a woman artist. As a historian, I am interested in looking at archaeological reports about this culture, cross-referencing other known images, and thinking about the economic role of women in the Chupícuaro to better understand this work.