Aztec (Mexica)
The Aztec people created art that drew on the Mesoamerican past, citing works from the ancient cities of Teotihuacan and Tula to give authority and legitimacy to the new empire. This provoked reflection on the inevitable end of empire and the cyclical nature of time, themes that are especially relevant this year, which is the five hundredth anniversary of the Spanish invasion of Mexico.
In this illustrated lecture, Claudia Brittenham, University of Chicago, discusses how Aztec art reflects this engagement with the historical past.
This lecture is generously sponsored by the Boshell Foundation Lecture Fund.
