Bowl Depicting a Mask atop a Bighorn-Sheep Head 1300 - 1400

This bowl depicting a mask atop a bighorn-sheep head was made by the Cibola people. The bowl immediately strikes us with its circular form, which is filled with geometric and stylized representations in a palette of red, white, and black. The mask, centrally positioned, exhibits a stark symmetry, while the bighorn sheep's head unfurls in a dynamic, curvilinear fashion. The composition can be interpreted through the lens of structuralism, where the bowl's surface acts as a field for symbolic communication. The mask, with its rigidly defined features, contrasts sharply with the fluid lines of the sheep's head, possibly indicating a tension between the human and animal realms. The arrangement of the images, along with the geometric motifs, might function as a semiotic system, conveying complex narratives or cultural beliefs. Ultimately, this bowl's formal qualities extend beyond mere decoration; they engage with fundamental questions of identity, representation, and the relationship between humanity and nature. The bowl remains a site for continual re-evaluation of its aesthetic and cultural significance.