Comparison Art: Olmec, Yoruba

 

The first piece of art is from the 12th-14th century sculpture made of terracotta with residue of pigment and traces of mica.  The piece is thought to represent Ife, which flourished from the twelfth to the fifteenth century in the southwestern Nigeria region.  The Yoruba people are unique in Africa in representing naturalism.  Most Yoruba art is centered around royal figures and their attendants depicting the political structure of a city ruled over by a king.  Heads sculpted by the Yoruba people were used ritually as offerings or sacrifices.

 

The next piece is about the Colossal heads of the Olmec.  The Olmec civilization thrived along the Mexico gulf from 1200 to 400 B.C and was the first major Mesoamerican culture.  Like the Yoruba, archaeologists believe that these heads were created to depict Olmec rulers.  The largest of the heads is one found in La Cobata and stands about 10 feet tall and weighs around 40 tons.  These head are not carved all around like the Yoruba heads that show very detailed design.  The overall design of the Olmec heads has been designed using more crude like tools with no metal tools at all.  It is unclear what the significance of the Olmec heads were made for but can only be speculated to have been made to worship a ruler, god, or another important figure. 

 

 

Based on the information found it is hard to say what the actual depiction of the Olmec heads are for in comparison to the Yoruba where there culture had a very detailed figure that can be speculated that the one who carved this must have been with this person a lot to do so.  I think the difference in political stature is significantly different to have art done by the Yoruba people that is in depth, clear and able to have the materials to do so.  Whereas the Olmec people did not have that ability to create due to the materials they did not have, but also adds a level of mystery that still lies with the Olmec culture that we may never know. 

 

Minster, Christopher. "The Colossal Heads of the Olmec." ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/the-colossal-heads-of-the-olmec-2136318.

Comments

  1. M. RobersonNovember 15, 2020 at 4:16 PM

    Brenden, I don't know if it is a issue on my end, but your I cant see your photos! Which is a bummer because they sounded really interesting based off of what you wrote. Especially the head that stands 10 feet tall and weighs tons! But overall good post!

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