Mayan art was composed of a complex symbolic
language with deeply important social functions.
Mainly commissioned by kings and other elite
figures, works of Mayan art fulfilled both political
and social purposes. Because the art functioned
as a type of language, to be understood by the
entire population, a certain consistency in
subject matter and its portrayal was necessary.
While this limited the artist’s individual creativity
to some degree, where one could distinguish
them was in the refinement of execution, as
revealed in this stunning polychrome cylinder
vessel. Rendered in the mural manner, a linear
style that befits the smooth vertical surface of
the vase, the craftsman has artistically divided
the vase into three vertical registers. The banded
top register contains within it a series of Mayan
glyphs that might possibly exemplify the
Mayan’s calendrical expertise, for sacred scenes,
such as the one depicted on the middle register
of this vessel, are always accompanied by the
writing of dates and constellations that mark the
event. This register and the polychrome bands
that form the bottom register create a natural
frame for the powerful scene depicted in the
middle. Here we see the main figure wearing a
ferocious jaguar mask and an elaborate costume
that includes jaguar skins. A procession of four
standing figures, all facing the same direction,
wraps around the vessel, each carrying a variety
of items, while two of the figures have jaguars
suspended upside down from their backs.
Perhaps these four figures are in the process of
presenting offerings to the main figure that
stands with hands outstretched. If only these
ancient images could speak, reaching across
time to tell us of their ancient mystery. Alas, they
cannot. However, this extraordinary vase does in
some ways speak – for it communicates to us as
a glorious work of art in and of itself, regardless
of whether we understand the symbolic language
depicted on its painted surface.
- (PF.2493)
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