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Art of the Americas and Africa

The Americas, as well as Africa also contributed to the unique art we have today; both
have distinguishing art. The painting The Founding of Tenochtitlan by the Aztecs who were
Native Mexicans in the 16th century and the Masks in performance used by Bwas who lived in
central America in the 20th century both reveal what traditions and beliefs their people had.
The Aztecs settled in Mexico at the end of the 15th century, after their captivity by the
Spaniards The Painting of Tenochtitlan was painted under the Spaniard supervision. The painting
The Founding of Tenochtitlan, taken from the Codex Mendoza manuscript, expresses the ideas
and beliefs of Aztecs. The painting was made in 1540 CE using ink and paint on European paper
(as mentioned in a Glimpse into Ancient Mexico: Writing of the Aztecs); the painting is an
idealized representation of the city of Tenochtitlan. Tenochtitlan was the place where Aztecs
settled because their main god gave them a sign to settle there. The center of the painting depicts
the establishment of the Aztecs in Tenochtitlan using the sign, an eagle and a cactus. The eagle
on the cactus is so important a symbol to the Aztecs and Mexico that it is even seen in the
middle of the Mexican flag. At the top of the painting there is a temple where they worshipped
their gods because the Aztecs were polytheists. As mentioned in Art: A Brief History by Marilyn
Stokstad and Michael W. Cothren, Aztecs believed human actions such as bloodletting and
human sacrifice were necessary in order for the universe to exist. The skull also represents the
Aztecs belief. The painting also depicts in a map like figure how the Aztecs won battles and how
Tenochtitlan looked like.
The Bwa people of Africa like the Aztecs, who expressed their religious belief and
represented themselves in the painting The Founding of Tenochtitlan, the Masks in performance
used by the Bwa also, expressed Bwas beliefs and traditions. The masks were made out of
wood, and looked odd and geometric as if used in a festival or carnival, but they actually depict
spirits in seasonal ceremonies. The process of how the masks are used is interesting; at the end
young males and females are ready to begin their own families as men and women. To me, this
seems like a process of coming of age or getting married, but it is actually more than that to the
Bwas. This is a tradition; it is also a learning ceremony because young males learn about their
religious spirits (another belief of Bwa people). The Aztec people included everything that was
necessary and symbolic in their painting, and the Bwa did too, their masks has geometric
patterns which symbolize the right way of behavior in life and they hoped this would attract their
spirits, and as a result their spirits would help scare away the slave hunters and other evil.
Both of the art works mentioned serve as symbolic purpose and through art the Aztecs
and the Bwa express their beliefs and traditions. I choose The Founding of Tenochtitlan because
it reminded me of figures used by Egyptians like in Judgment of Hunefer before Osiris, the
figures look stiff and without much dimension. I also choose Masks in performance because of
the interesting geometric shapes used; the use of black and white was also eye catching. It is
interesting that without using writing or language and through art a culture or group of people
can express their belief and traditions.

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