Naked or semi-naked female figures have been a special subject of Mesoamerican sculpture throughout its history. Worth noting among them are the small-format solid sculptures of the middle Preclassic from sites such as Tlatilco and Tlapacoya in Mexico’s Central Basin which enjoy special fame, and are known as “Pretty Women”.
This same name has been applied here, whose place of origin is located in southern Guerrero. A more specific geographical designation is the “Saint Jerome style”, named after a site near Zihuatanejo, although they have been found from Acapulco to Zacatula in a geo-cultural region known as Costa Grande.
The enormous variety of representations and recreations in the reiterated figuration of women is surprising. The Saint Jerome style is distinguished by the tall rectangular heads, sometimes measuring more than half the total height of the piece, the large eyes and slender noses, hair styles with a slight central depression, not indicated by a parting, but by two elevations or buns, and also by the punches and incisions to mark the details, the exclusive focus on the front and the tapered legs that prevent them from standing up.
These nudes are often ornate, and those of the Saint Jerome style are no exception. In the image we see the described hairstyle has the appearance of two layers. The uppermost suggests strands of hair while the other shows punched markings at the bottom, representing tresses or attachments. She also has disc-shaped earmuffs and a necklace consisting of various threads and pendants. She is wearing a garment similar to the male máxtlatl (loincloth): a pleated cloth covering the hip and ending in an extended flat part at the front. The horizontal lines on the leg represent bands or bracelets.
Little is known of the meanings that the various Mesoamerican societies attributed to this type of female sculpture. Their small bulky form is notable as it affords them strength and makes them suitable for carrying around. They are generally found in burial and surface contexts. I have no knowledge of specific records on those of the Costa Grande of Guerrero. They have usually been associated with biological fertility; however, they often lack attributes that would indicate motherhood. The remarkable variety in their configurations in each cultural sphere alludes more to attempts at portraits rather than generic configurations, while the ornamentation suggests high social status. It follows that their artistic images are a testimony to the importance of women in the different orders of society, including the religious, political and economic spheres.
Naked or semi-naked female figures have been a special subject of Mesoamerican sculpture throughout its history. Worth noting among them are the small-format solid sculptures of the middle Preclassic from sites such as Tlatilco and Tlapacoya in Mexico’s Central Basin which enjoy special fame, and are known as “Pretty Women”.
