Abstract
This article examines the sixteenth-century Maya coat of arms, the Memorial Shield to the Massacre at Otzmal. In analyzing the work, I consider it in the context of indigenous peoples’ efforts to gain social standing and honors during the first decades of Spanish colonial dominion in Yucatán. I suggest that the coat of arms, and the documents contextually related to its creation, offer a glimpse into the developing artistic and cultural practices in colonial Yucatán during the sixteenth century while providing insight into how the work’s creator, Gaspar Antonio Chi, understood and responded to the colonial world to which he was apart. As one of the few extant artistic works specifically related to expressing sixteenth-century Yucatec Maya social and political concerns, the Otzmal shield allows for considerations of how a Maya artist responded to the colonial encounter, through the adoption of European visual and cultural strategies in his efforts to secure and solidify his standing in the new political landscape of Yucatán.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.