Jar Depicting Performer Wearing an Abstract Bird Costume c. 180 - 500

This jar, depicting a performer in an abstract bird costume, was made by the Nazca people using ceramic and paint. The form has a pleasing roundness to it, contrasting with the sharp, angular painted imagery, depicting a figure, perhaps a priest, in ceremonial garb. Nazca pottery was typically made by coiling clay, then smoothing the surface, and painting it with mineral-based pigments. The fact that these pigments have remained so vibrant over centuries speaks to the skill of the makers. The act of hand-painting, and the highly stylized forms are quite distinctive from pottery produced via industrial means. Instead, these are the products of slow, deliberate work. In the absence of written records, these vessels provide insight into social roles and belief systems. The amount of labor involved in producing such a jar – extracting and preparing the clay, constructing the vessel, mixing and applying the paints – suggests a culture that valued the time and expertise of its artisans. It’s a great example of how careful attention to materials and making can illuminate the rich cultural context in which an artwork was produced.