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Art, in its various forms, is something that has existed practically
since the era when man was naught more than a brutish primate wandering
from place to place in search of bare shelter and sustenance. And this,
moreover, is something that is accentuated quite strongly when
considering it in light of the various discoveries of predated and
sometimes fossilized paintings, sculptors and metal and iron trinkets.
Take into consideration, for instance, the data that has invariable
been brought to light with the typically archeological unearthing of
various relics and tidbits from different cultures and regions. It is
quite apparent, thus speaking, that art works procured from a
particular region and/or culture tend to be especially relevant as a
result of the fact that they are reflective of the attitudes and
preconceptions prevailing within the particular culture (s).
The Aztecs & the five functions of their art
Take into consideration, for instance, the prevailing features and
characteristics of the art that has been recovered from the Aztec
culture that historically reigned within the region currently known as
the Americas. Consider that art has historically provided an avenue via
which the particularly respective artists can express the depth of
his/her ideological traits. It is barely surprising, considering that
prime reason due to which most artists tend to be so transfixed by the
objectivity of their work (s). This is something that brings us to
another function of Aztec art; bringing about a recorded illustration
of reverence towards the animals that they perceived to be crucially
central towards their existence in as much as providing food {meat} and
clothing {skins}.
One of the functions of Aztec art that is rather different from
those above, however, is made apparent when considering the collective
Aztec obsession with religion and their relationship with their
numerous gods. They dedicated as much time as possible towards the
construction of elaborately adorned and designed pyramid temples and
religious centers to honor their many gods and goddesses (Soisson,
1987). It would, be similarly relevant to acknowledge that in art, the
Aztecs sought to metaphorically reflect the influences of the
characteristics of their environment, religion and everyday lives
(Baquedano, 1993). Finally, the last function of Aztec art appears to
have been something of an appeasement to the gods, something that is
accentuated quite strongly when considering it in light of the fact
that a prevalence of Aztec art appears to be exclusively focused on the
portrayal of strange, hybridized entities that appear to have the
bearings of particularly respective Gods (Soisson, 1987).
The relativity that nature yielded over Aztec art
It would be relevant to consider that as far as the influence that
nature yielded over the entirety of Aztec art is concerned, this is
something that is virtually impossible to overlook. Take into
consideration, for instance, that the natural surroundings of the
Aztecs provided the only areas whence they could borrow ideologies for
their graphical representations from. The region of their habitation
was abundantly inhabited by foxes, owls, jaguars, fish, birds,
hummingbirds, deer, rabbit and duck, dogs and these animals were often
an inspiration for their art and decoration (Young, 2004).
It would be noteworthy to acknowledge the fact that the Aztec
culture decreed there to be virtually no difference between art, and
religion, this being something that attains further significance when
considering it in light of the fact that in Aztec culture, art and
religion were not easily separated (McDowell, 1980). It is quite
apparent, thus speaking, that the Aztecs complied to a rather
naturalist state of religious theology, this being something that is
espoused rather clearly when considering it in light of the fact that
in addition to ascribing almost supreme relevance to their Sun God;
they also believed in a great many divinities ostensible supposed to
supervise the transpiration of such natural occurrences as crop
fertility, weather changes and even childbirth. This, moreover, is a
theme that tends to be indirectly supported by the collective Aztec
ideology that all human virtues were achieved as a result of the
underlying human relativity to the communal animal kingdom.
Aztec Iconography & more on the depth of the illustration of animals within Aztec art
One of the most significant finds of existing Aztec art is the Aztec
Sun Stone, found in the Great Temple at Tenochtitlan. The stone, which
has a diameter measuring 13.2 feet and is approximately 24 tons in
weight, is one of the best preserved objects of art that is resplendent
with Aztec iconography. Inserted to the right of the text of this
paragraph (Extracted from website; consult appendix for enlarged image
and link) the face of the Aztec Sun Stone, one of the most breathtaking
examples of Aztec iconography to have been discovered in exceptional
condition, represents the Aztec universe ( Crystal, 2004). The face of
the Aztec sun god is carved in the center with circular bands of
designs that symbolize the days and the heavens.
The metaphorical intricacy of the Sun Stone, moreover, is
highlighted when considering that the magnificence of the crown,
nose-pendant, ear-rings and necklace affixed to the face of the sun god
are meant reflect the splendor of the deity itself. Even more relevant,
moreover, is the ideology that the reason that the visage appears to
have its tongue stuck out is that it ‘demands to be fed with blood and
human hearts’ ( Crystal, 2004). And in regard to the Aztec transfixion
with integrating animals into their artwork: it would be relevant to
acknowledge that the Aztecs believed that all skills and virtues,
physical as well as mental, came from their natural communion with
particular animals. This is something that related to the fact that man
and animals lived in close relativity and dependence upon each other
(Young, 2004).
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