Female Figurine c. 500

This female figurine was made by the Tlatilco people out of ceramic. The Tlatilco were an early culture in the Valley of Mexico, around 1500 to 500 BCE. This small sculpture offers a glimpse into the social and religious life of pre-Olmec Mesoamerica. Its exaggerated hips and thighs relate to broader themes of fertility and the feminine that may have been related to agricultural productivity and social reproduction. The hairstyle and clothing suggest social status or ceremonial roles within the community. But it also prompts questions about the institutions that collected and displayed it. How do museums shape our understanding of ancient cultures? What assumptions do we bring when we interpret art from vastly different societies? To answer these questions requires knowledge of both Mesoamerican cultures and the display of that culture in the modern West.