GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Objects that are Olmec in style have been found in such distant areas of Mesoamerica as Tlapacoya and Tlatilco in the Valley of Mexico, Chalcatzingo in Morelos, and Teopantecuanitlan in Guerrero. The relationship between the regional cultures that made or used these items and the Olmec archaeological culture of the Gulf Coast, which is often described as the Olmec heartland, is more debated than understood. The site of Las Bocas, near the modern town of Izúcar de Matamoros in western Puebla, is also a source of ceramics in the Olmec style. Ceramic female figurines from this region are sometimes described as fertility figures. They usually exhibit similar features—a refined naturalism characteristic of the Las Bocas style, with thin limbs and distinctive facial features, often with various abnormalities. Physical deformity, a recurring theme in Mesoamerican art and the Olmec style, indicates a special connection to the supernatural world. In certain figures, social status is indicated through earspools and hairstyle, as seen in this example, and these often reflect regional traditions.
Elaine Higgins Smith, Digital Collections Content Coordinator, 2015.
Drawn from
- Carol Robbins, Label text [1993.80 and 1993.81], A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
- Bonnie Pitman, ed., "Seated hunchback holding mirror (1993.81) and Seated hunchback holding rectangular object (1993.80)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012), 38.
- "Female Figure [Mexico; Las Bocas (?)]" (1983.424). In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1983.424. (October 2006).
NOTES
Olmec, Formative period, 1200–400 B.C.E., updated by KJones in TMS on 03/14/16 and 03/21/16.
Cultures
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Olmec: AAT: 300017051
Geography
Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560
Puebla (state): TGN: 7005592
Las Bocas (deserted settlement / Puebla): DMA
Process/materials
ceramic (material): AAT: 300235507
clay: AAT: 300010439
resin (organic material): AAT: 300012882
paint (coating): AAT: 300015029
glazing (coating): AAT: 300053914
incising: AAT: 300053847
slip (clay): AAT: 300010459
slip glaze: AAT: 300015110
coiling (pottery technique): AAT: 300053903
modeling (forming): AAT: 300053130
slab method (pottery technique): AAT: 300053905
incising: AAT: 300053847
firing (technique): AAT: 300053887
kilns (ovens / heating equipment): AAT: 300022798
Historical periods
Middle Preclassic Period (Formative): AAT: 300016973
Late Preclassic Period (Formative): AAT: 300016976
Preclassic (Archaic / Formative / Mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016967
Formative Period (Preclassic): AAT: 300016973
Individuals
Subject terms
sculpture: AAT: 300047090
figurine: AAT: 300047455
funerary objects: AAT: 300234126
effigies (funerary sculpture): AAT: 300047108
standing: AAT: 300239500
female: AAT: 300189557
women (female humans): AAT: 300025943
figures: AAT: 300189808
human figures: AAT: 300404114
portrait: AAT: 300015637
fertility: AAT: 300379149
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
n.d: Dr. and Sra. Josué Sáenz, Mexico, D.F. [1]
Until 1973: Edward H. Merrin Gallery, Inc. [2]
From 1973: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene McDermott and The Eugene McDermott Foundation and Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated [2], [3]
[1] The main source for this provenance is Object Worksheet (n.d., copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] The main source for this provenance is Acquisition Record (dated March 13, 1973, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[3] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1973.69
Category
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General Description
Objects that are Olmec in style have been found in such distant areas of Mesoamerica as Tlapacoya and Tlatilco in the Valley of Mexico, Chalcatzingo in Morelos, and Teopantecuanitlan in Guerrero. The relationship between the regional cultures that made or used these items and the Olmec archaeological culture of the Gulf Coast, which is often described as the Olmec heartland, is more debated than understood. The site of Las Bocas, near the modern town of Izúcar de Matamoros in western Puebla, is also a source of ceramics in the Olmec style. Ceramic female figurines from this region are sometimes described as fertility figures. They usually exhibit similar features—a refined naturalism characteristic of the Las Bocas style, with thin limbs and distinctive facial features, often with various abnormalities. Physical deformity, a recurring theme in Mesoamerican art and the Olmec style, indicates a special connection to the supernatural world. In certain figures, social status is indicated through earspools and hairstyle, as seen in this example, and these often reflect regional traditions.
Elaine Higgins Smith, Digital Collections Content Coordinator, 2015.
Drawn from
- Carol Robbins, Label text [1993.80 and 1993.81], A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
- Bonnie Pitman, ed., "Seated hunchback holding mirror (1993.81) and Seated hunchback holding rectangular object (1993.80)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012), 38.
- "Female Figure [Mexico; Las Bocas (?)]" (1983.424). In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1983.424. (October 2006).
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
Olmec, Formative period, 1200–400 B.C.E., updated by KJones in TMS on 03/14/16 and 03/21/16.
Cultures
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Olmec: AAT: 300017051
Geography
Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560
Puebla (state): TGN: 7005592
Las Bocas (deserted settlement / Puebla): DMA
Process/materials
ceramic (material): AAT: 300235507
clay: AAT: 300010439
resin (organic material): AAT: 300012882
paint (coating): AAT: 300015029
glazing (coating): AAT: 300053914
incising: AAT: 300053847
slip (clay): AAT: 300010459
slip glaze: AAT: 300015110
coiling (pottery technique): AAT: 300053903
modeling (forming): AAT: 300053130
slab method (pottery technique): AAT: 300053905
incising: AAT: 300053847
firing (technique): AAT: 300053887
kilns (ovens / heating equipment): AAT: 300022798
Historical periods
Middle Preclassic Period (Formative): AAT: 300016973
Late Preclassic Period (Formative): AAT: 300016976
Preclassic (Archaic / Formative / Mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016967
Formative Period (Preclassic): AAT: 300016973
Individuals
Subject terms
sculpture: AAT: 300047090
figurine: AAT: 300047455
funerary objects: AAT: 300234126
effigies (funerary sculpture): AAT: 300047108
standing: AAT: 300239500
female: AAT: 300189557
women (female humans): AAT: 300025943
figures: AAT: 300189808
human figures: AAT: 300404114
portrait: AAT: 300015637
fertility: AAT: 300379149
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
n.d: Dr. and Sra. Josué Sáenz, Mexico, D.F. [1]
Until 1973: Edward H. Merrin Gallery, Inc. [2]
From 1973: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene McDermott and The Eugene McDermott Foundation and Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated [2], [3]
[1] The main source for this provenance is Object Worksheet (n.d., copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] The main source for this provenance is Acquisition Record (dated March 13, 1973, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[3] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1973.69
source file
object_notes_3_a-0736.xml.nores