Mayan Sculpture of a Seated Mother with Child, 500 CE - 900 CE
Terracotta
4.5
PF.2393
With shoulders stooped and head leaning forward, this poignantly sculpted female figure evokes our sensitive emotions. An expressive face is marked with slanted eyes, highlighted by black painted lashes and...
With shoulders stooped and head leaning forward, this poignantly sculpted female figure evokes our sensitive emotions. An expressive face is marked with slanted eyes, highlighted by black painted lashes and brows. A large nose protrudes above a softly opened mouth. Echoes of face and body paint, now tempered by time, hint at her once-decorated spirit. As she cradles her child in crossed legs, we can imagine her gently bent torso rocking back and forth, soothing the soul of her tiny infant. Perhaps a soft song emanates from her lips. This touching work of art, modestly sculpted and tender in spirit, is a timeless testament to the sensitivities of the ancient culture that created her. A bridge between time and space, she captures the Universal bond between mother and child as well as that transcendent bond that unites each human being with another.