Pre-Columbian

he term pre-Columbian is used when referring to the various cultures and civilizations found throughout North and South America before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492. Many of these civilizations created works of art that give insights into their cultures and ways of life. (See Figure 11.1, page 244.) Discovery and study of these works have helped unravel some of the mysteries of these ancient peoples. The Olmec The first great civilization in Mexico was the Olmec, which dates from as early as 1200 B.C. to A.D. 500. These people lived on the great coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico. They settled mainly in the areas that are now Veracruz and Tabasco. The Olmec are believed by many to have made the first Mexican sculptures. They left the earliest remains of carved altars, pillars, sarcophagi, and statues in Mexico. The Olmec’s most surprising works were gigantic heads carved in volcanic rock (Figure 11.14). Eighteen have been discovered thus far. They may represent the severed heads of losers in an ancient game known as pelota. These sculptures measure 8 feet high and weigh up to 40 tons. Art in Mexico and in Central and South America 254 LESSON TWO T ■ FIGURE 11.14 This huge head presents an intimidating image to the viewer. What aesthetic qualities seem most appropriate when making and defending a judgment about this work? Olmec. Colossal Head. 1200 B.C.– A.D. 500. Basalt. 243.8 cm (8) high. Anthropology Museum, Veracruz, Mexico. Olmec Sculpture Some of the same features found on those heads can be seen in a realistic jadeite mask that may have once graced the tomb of an Olmec ruler (Figure 11.15). The huge heads and this striking mask have the same mouth that droops at the corners. The face on this mask is certainly not warm or welcoming. Eyes peer out at you from under heavy eyelids, and the open mouth suggests a snarl rather than speech. These features were intended to convey power, for the king not only ruled over the people but was thought to have a link to the supernatural world. Although it is reasonable to assume that the Olmec produced architecture of the same high quality as their sculpture, no examples have been discovered. The Maya The most elegant of the pre-Columbian cultures was the Mayan. The Maya controlled vast lands that included what are now Yucatan, Guatemala, and Honduras. They never advanced technically beyond the Stone Age but possessed highly developed skills in a number of other areas. They became great builders, devised an elaborate system of mathematics, and invented a precise calendar. Mayan Religion In order to understand the chilling rituals that were an important part of Mayan culture, it is necessary to learn about their religious beliefs. The Maya believed that the gods created humans through self-sacrifice and that the first people were formed by mixing maize, or corn, with water. These people were brought to life with the blood of the gods. To repay this debt, humans were required to return blood to the gods, who in turn were expected to maintain the people’s strength and nourishment. The most sacred rituals in the Mayan religion were characterized by efforts to secure blood for the gods. Public ceremonies typically included rituals in which the Mayan ruler and his wife drew their own blood and captives taken in war were sacrificed. Chapter 11 The Native Arts of the Americas 255 ■ FIGURE 11.15 Note the similarities between the face on this jadeite mask and the face on the huge head in Figure 11.15. Do you think that knowing when, where, why, and by whom this mask was created would affect your judgment of it? What does your answer to this question tell you about the value of art history? Olmec. Mask. Tabasco, Mexico. 900–500 B.C. Jadeite. 18.1 16.5 10.1 cm (71⁄8 69⁄16 4). Dallas Museum of art, Dallas, Texas. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene McDermott, the McDermott Foundation, and Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Inc. Mayan Architecture Mayan cities were constructed with vast central plazas to accommodate the masses of people who gathered to witness these ceremonies. Rich reliefs covered the buildings, monuments, and temples around and within these plazas (Figure 11.16). At first, these carvings were simple and realistic, but later they became more elaborate and complex. Figures were carved with so many ornaments that it is often difficult to separate them from backgrounds filled with symbols and inscriptions referring to various important events. Mayan architecture and sculpture were painted. Examples have been found in which traces of pigment still cling to the limestone surface. The carved surfaces were painted in contrasting colors, and this may have helped separate the figure from the background. Red commonly was used for the skin areas, blue and green for ornaments, green for feathers, and blue for garments. Mayan Relief Sculpture ■ FIGURES 11.17 and 11.18 This Mayan relief (Figure 11.17) shows a royal priestess dressed in a rich costume and wearing an elaborate plumed headdress. Her face is in profile. The forehead slants back, the large nose dominates, and the chin recedes. These features, found in most Mayan heads, are easily observed in a detail from the Mayan relief illustrated in Figure 11.18. The Maya built their first cities by A.D. 320. Their civilization reached a peak, declined, revived, and declined again before the arrival 256 Unit Four Art of Asia, the Americas, and Africa ■ FIGURE 11.16 The Mayan city at Tikal included temples and other structures built with a cement-like compound made from burnt lime. The pyramids here are 230 feet high. What other ancient culture developed a cement to create buildings that have lasted through the centuries? Maya. Great Plaza of Tikal, general view. Tikal, Guatemala. A.D. 150–700. of Hernando Cortés in 1519. The Spanish conquest completed the downfall of the Mayan culture. The Aztecs When Cortés waded ashore at Veracruz in 1519, a people called the Aztecs had nearly succeeded in conquering Mexico from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and as far south as Guatemala. After a campaign lasting less than 200 years (1324–1521), the Aztec conquest was complete. Following a legendary prophecy that they would build a city where an eagle perched on a cactus with a serpent in its mouth, the Aztecs settled in the marshes on the west shore of the great “Lake of the Moon,” Lake Texcoco. Chapter 11 The Native Arts of the Americas 257 ■ FIGURE 11.17 Originally, contrasting colors probably helped the viewer distinguish between this intricately carved figure and its elaborate background. Do you think attempts to restore the painted surfaces would add to this work of art or detract from it? Explain your ideas. Royal Woman. Relief carving, Chiapas or Tabasco, Mexico. A.D. 650–750. Limestone, stucco, paint. 220.3 76.8 15.2 cm (863 ⁄4 301⁄4 6). Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, Texas. Foundation for the Arts Collection, gift