Seated or Kneeling figure c. 250 - 300

This small clay figure was created by an artist of the Chupícuaro culture, which flourished in modern-day Guanajuato, Mexico, centuries ago. Though the exact dates of Chupícuaro's artistic peak are still debated, it likely occurred between 500 BCE and 300 CE. What can the image tell us about the culture that created it? The figure's pose and adornments might offer clues to its role in Chupícuaro society. Its open mouth could indicate singing or chanting, implying a ritual purpose. Holes on either side of the head may have held now-lost ornaments, signifying status or affiliation. To understand this object more fully, historians turn to archaeological reports, studies of Mesoamerican religion, and analyses of similar figurines found at burial sites. Art like this reminds us that meaning is never fixed but is shaped by its historical and cultural context.