Head Date Unknown

This head was crafted from clay by an unknown artist. The figure's open mouth and heavy-lidded eyes are suggestive of someone in a trance-like state. Scholars of pre-Columbian art tell us that this head likely comes from the Veracruz region of ancient Mexico. The cultural practices of this region included ritualistic performances in which priests or rulers would enter altered states to communicate with the supernatural. Given its elaborate headwear, it is likely that this head represents a person of high social standing who was involved in these rituals. Archaeological reports and ethnographies of modern-day indigenous communities are essential resources in our ongoing effort to understand the place of art in the social and spiritual life of ancient Veracruz. Ultimately, this head is a potent reminder of the ways in which art objects are entangled with the social and institutional practices of the cultures that produce them.