1. Tlatilco Female Figurine
Era: BCE
Location: Central Mexico
Makeba Phillip, Mikayla Colbourne, Sidney Rhoton, Christopher Segarra
Period 4

2. Form This figure is a ceramic piece with pigment.
The artists show no care for the hands or feet, but pay special attention to elaborate hair styles.
Has a very smooth surface, but the hair is textured with vertical lines.
This piece is differentiated from others and non-naturalistic due to the form of the body including the lack of arms along with big thighs.
This work also emphasizes an expression of duality.

3. Content The figurine is a two-headed female figure
The figurine can range in size, but normally they are small scale and have tiny breasts and waists.
The artists treated the hairstyles with extreme care and delicacy, which suggested that hair was very important to the people.
They had attenuated limbs and occasionally disturbing facial features.

4. Context From the same region as the Aztec Empire
Lively poses and intricate hairstyles indicate sophisticated artistic tradition
Created between B.C.E
The makers lived in large farming villages near the great inland lake, so they used nearby materials.
The females have religious roles in this society, although specifics are unknown.
The skills to make figures such as these were passed down and mastered over generations (Cultural ties)
Fascination with physical deformities in the culture

5. Function
People believed that the two heads could be an expression of duality.
Male figures hold a high role in religion, the female figures are less religious but its likely that it is still present.
Scholars doubted that there were full time artists at this point in time. Craftsmanship was more of a skill used for survival and the tradition was passed down.
These figures were often associated with fertility and maternity.
Similar figures were often found in burials accompanying the deceased in afterlife.

6. Vocab. Bicephalic: Two-headed
Sedentary: Abiding in one place; not migratory.
Attentuated: Reduced especially in thickness, density, or force.