Indigenous Americas
By Jess and Jack
North America
Mesoamerica
South America
Works Cited
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BARRON’S AP ART HISTORY
Khan Academy
AP Art History Book
History.com
American Art
-Ancient America can be divided into many cultural and historical groupings.
-Art in these regions are often animal based and used in shamanistic rituals.
-Art was made from local materials especially stone.
-Mesoamerican Art: ( Mexico, Guatemalan, Honduras, Belize) is characterized
by
architectural structures such as pyramids, and influence of astronomy and colanders
on ritual objects. Also great value was placed on green objects like jade.
-Andean Art: (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador) This art is characterized by shamanistic rituals
involving a special reverence and respect of the natural world. Many of their works
have been found in graves.
-North American Indians: (North America) These people have experienced ongoing
persecution and change since the arrival of the Europeans and their remaining art is
mostly larger monuments.
-Modern Native Americans: These people maintain their active cultural identities
today. Their art includes decorative motifs with animal and geometric designs.
Chavin de Huantar
900-200 B.C.E.
-Northern highlands, Peru
-Chavin temple
-stone architectural complex made
of stone corridors, granite sculpture,
and hammered gold alloy /jewelry
- A religious capital
- Guarded by a jaguar sculpture a
sign of power
- Entrance was hidden
inside the Lanzon stone, a
fifteen foot blade depicts a
powerful figure with the body of
a human with fangs and claws.
This blade was most likely used
as a cult figure or center of a
pilgrimage.
- What sculpture is in the city?
Mesa Verde cliff dwellings
450-1300 C.E.
Montezuma county, Colorado
-Ancestral Puebloan/ Anasazi art= “ancient
ones” most famous for their pueblos which
often face a town plaza, a religious or social
center.
- Made of sandstone
- Clans of about 250 moved and lived
together for mutual support and defense
- Each family had one dwelling room
- Plateaus above pueblos housed all
farming. Water and any other materials
had to be transported there
top ledge kept all supplies dry and cool
- What civilization created the pueblos?
Yaxchilan
726 C.E.
Chiapas, Mexico
- Maya=art known for their
concept of ideal beauty. Figures
if gods are stylized and placed in
hieratic posses and are often
shown with tattoos or crossed
eyes. Chacmool ( figure that is
half sitting and half lying on his
back) is found in many Mayan
cities.
- Architectural complex made of
limestone
- Set on high terrace
- Building dedicated to Bird
Jaguar IV
- Has three entrances and
overlooks plaza
stone decorations on roof top
- The three entrances is similar but
cannot be attributed to _____.
Great Serpent Mound
1070 C.E.
Adams County, Ohio
-Mississippian= Communities based
on agricultural, that created many
mound structure
-Effigy Shape or uncertain meaning
-Possible reasons for creation
• Symbol of crop fertility
• For the passing of Haley’s Comet
• Other Astrological Phenomenon
• Head of the Snake faces the Summer
Solstice
-Widely acknowledged as NOT a burial
site
- Name one possible reason for the
mound and one debunked reason?
Templo Mayor (Main
Temple) 1375-1520 C.E.
Aztec= Represented by gold jewelry
and jade and turquoise carvings.
Another Aztec cultural facet is
grounded in religion, where they
practice blood-letting and other
human sacrifices to the god
Coyolxauhqui.
- Tenochtitlan, Mexico
-Part of a grid like city
-Two temples with separate stair
cases leading to each of them
-Each Temple was for a different
god, Tlalco is represented by the
North Temple and South is for
Huitzilopochtli
-During the Spring and Autumn
Equinoxes the sun shines between
each temple
-Destroyed when the Spaniards
arrived in the city
- How many temples are on top of
Temple Mayor?
Today
Theme: Religion
Temple Mayor
Temple of Minerva
For religious worship, and was around as
early as the foundation of the city.
Rebuilt several times for new rulers and
due to flooding. Temple Mayor was the
center of the capital and the empire,
literally. Composed of two temples
above and hundreds of steps below. Has
the Coyolxauhqui stone at the base to
show the importance of the god.
Made of cement, grind stones. Front is
the focus with the 3 entrance ways and
pediment as well as columns in the front.
Has steps leading up to the entrances.
On the roof lay the gods and goddesses
as well as floral. Was obviously for
religious worship, and the architect is
unknown.
Both: Focus toward the front and above, both were destroyed, for religious
purposes, focuses of the area, display gods in sculpture, and held the highest
reverences in society
Ruler’s feather headdress
(probably of Motecuhzoma
ii) 1428-1520 C.E.
-Feathers, quetzal and cotinga,
and gold
-400 Feathers from the quetzal
bird symbolizes eternity
-Most likely a gift to Cortes to
Motecuhzoma
- What is a quetzal?
City of Cusco, including
Qorikancha (Inka main
temple) 1440 C.E.
Inkan= Built many well-designed cities in
inhospitable areas. Used a technique
called ashlars masonry where they fitted
stones into a jig-saw pattern. Used wellorganized roads across the empire
uniting it.
- Santo Domingo, Central Highlands, Peru
-Capital City
-Shaped of a Puma, which was a royal
animal
-Head of the Puma is a fortress and belly
is the plaza
Qorikancha
-Main Temple of Santo Domingo, made
from sandstone
- Once had a golden enclosure
-At one time was used as an observatory
- Trapezoidal roof
- How many important pieces are shown?
Maize cobs 1400-1533 C.E.
-Made of sheet metal, gold, and silver
-Charm to represent successful harvest
-May have been a piece to a larger
sculpture
-Black maize
- Why would the Inkan’s create this?
Machu Picchu 14501540 C.E.
- Central Highlands, Peru
- Granite
-Royal Palace/ Royal Retreat
-Thatched Roofs
- Built wit stone and precise carvings
-Buildings including houses, temples, palaces and baths
All T’oqapu tunic
1450-1540 C.E.
- Camelid fiber and cotton
-Rectangular shape and slit in the
middle where head goes when being
worn.
- t’opaqu – small rectangular shapes w
symbolic of individuals or events.
-Tunic may have been worn by an
Inkan ruler and signifies status.
- abstract and standard designs
expresses unity and order of Inkan art
- The small rectangular shapes
represent that represent individuals or
events are called ____.
Bandoiler bag
1850 C.E.
North American= art was made from
local supplies. Wood was used in the
Pacific south west,. Clay plant fibers, and
wool were used in the Southwest. Hides
were used in all areas where large
animals like deer and bison were
found. North Americans were mostly
nomadic or semi-nomadic (Southwest
Indians lived by the use of agriculture).
Plains Indians depicted events or myths
by drawing on hides. European settlers
later influenced the style of
these people.
Delaware Tribe, Eastern Woodlands
Beadwork on leather with slit at top.
strap across chest
made from traded cloth like cotton, wool,
velvet, or leather
done when Europeans were present in
Americas
beads were imported from Europe
beautiful object of prestige worn by
women
Name one component material?
Transformation mask
1800s C.E.
- Northwest coast of Canada
-Wood, paint, and string
-From the Pacific Northwest People
-Part of a costume
-Turn away from the audience as they
open the mask
- Fun fact, this inspired the Seahawks logo
Painted elk hide 18901900 C.E.
-Eastern Shoshone, Wind River
Reservation, Wyoming
-Elk Hide
-Cotsiogo or Cadzi Cody’s
-Story of his life
-Worn as a robe
-Used in European and American
market
-Showed the bison’s and the horses of
the Plains people
-Bison are gifts from the Creator
-Horses were used to fight for freedom
-Sundance, which eventually became
outlawed by the U.S. and Teepee,
which was used for shelter, illustrated
-Poles of teepee reach heaven
-Attributed to….?
Black-on-black ceramic
vessel
-New Mexico
- Highly polished surface
Contrast between matte black finish
and shiny black finish
1,000 year old tradition of pottery
making in Southwest
at the time the vessel was made
modern life was replacing traditional
life
Maria and Julian Martinez, Tewa
Puebloan, San Ildefonso Pueblo
Revival of pueblo techniques
invented more shapes than traditional
pueblos
Julian painted pots
Maria made pots
Exceptional symmetry, walls have
even thickness, no imperfect surfaces
- Creators of these pieces?
Theme: power and narrative
All T’oqapu Tunic
Bayeux Tapestry
The Bayeux Tapestry was made to tell
a story. It is a story of political power
and also justification of the Norman’s
invasion of England. The entire
tapestry was done with expert
embroidery taking many years to
complete. It was later presented to
Bishop Odo. It show the events of
1064-1066 before the war, during the
invasion, and after as king William the
conqueror is victorious. It justifies the
victory by portraying king Harold as a
liar. This textile also has registered
areas on top and bottom of the main
story.
The All Toqapu Tunic
is decorated with little
geometric, registered
squares that
represent individuals,
events, or places. The
bright variety of colors
show power and
wealth. These colors
and intricate designs
were done with fine
threads and expert
weaving. The black
and white checkered
Both: Both pieces of art are not made
patterned t’oqapu
of precious gems or metals, but still
represents the Inkan.
considered very precious and a symbol
military.
of power in their society. Both pieces
also show a story or symbolize
important events, individuals, and
places in their society.
• The American
Civilizations lost their
cultures with the
arrival of Europeans
resulting from their
attacks, emphasizing
the lack of later pieces.
Bibliography
Khan Academy
https://www.khanacademy.org/huma
nities/art-americas/south-americaearly/inca-art/a/all-toqapu-tunic
Encyclopedia.com
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/B
ayeux_tapestry.aspx