Woman's blouse (Huipil) collar 1920

This textile is a woman’s blouse collar, or huipil, created by Mayan artists. The weaving presents a striking interplay of red and white, dominated by geometric patterns that evoke a sense of structured rhythm and cultural depth. The composition employs a grid-like structure, yet it is disrupted by diagonal bands and varying densities of pattern. This deviation challenges the rigidity of pure geometry, suggesting a dynamic interplay between order and irregularity. The visual field is divided and unified through the repetition of diamond motifs and vertical stripes, creating a semiotic system where each element functions as a sign within a larger cultural narrative. The material texture also invites contemplation on its creation, and the artist’s touch. Through its formal structure, this huipil does not simply represent cultural identity but actively performs it. We find not a fixed symbol, but a vibrant, evolving expression of identity.