Chinesco Style (Type D) Nayarit Terracotta Sculpture of a Seated Man, 300 BCE - 300 CE
Terracotta
7
PF.3371
The stylistic interpretation of a human being varies from culture to culture and period of time. Here, this Nayarit artist appears to have preferred creating a simple, abstract interpretation of...
The stylistic interpretation of a human being varies from culture to culture and period of time. Here, this Nayarit artist appears to have preferred creating a simple, abstract interpretation of this delightful seated male figure. The entire body has been blended together. Arms, legs, torso and buttocks have been depicted by the artist's soft molding o the clay. There is no need to delineate features, it is a work of art within itself. We can see that the arms are resting on his stomach from the simple curve of the clay. He wears ear spools, and a turban-like headdress, perhaps made of hair, tops off his elongated forehead. On his back and other areas, there are slight traces of painting. The ravages of time may have worn off the paint, but his charming simplicity and innocent expression still remains for us to enjoy today.