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Standing Figure
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
The Olmec were Mesoamerica's greatest lapidaries; their work in jade and serpentine was prized by both contemporary and later Mesoamerican cultures. Human beings were jaguar traits (such as the downturned mouth and paw-like hands of this figurine) are common in Olmec art. Such creatures were probably believed to possess supernatural powers.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineStanding Figure, c. 900–400 BCE. Mesoamerica, Mexico, Olmec. Serpentine; overall: 10.6 x 4.5 x 2.5 cm (4 3/16 x 1 3/4 x 1 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James C. Gruener, 1990.219
