Carved Gourd Commemorating Independence from Spain
ca. 1821
Medium
Carved tree gourd (Cresentia cujeta), pigment
Dimensions
11 1/2 × 10 1/4 × 4 3/4 in. (29.2 × 26 × 12.1 cm)
Classification
Gourd
Culture
Mexican (Oaxaca)
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Dunn Revocable Trust, 2021
Accession Number
2021.226
Art Historical Context
This intricately carved gourd celebrates Mexico's hard-won independence from Spain achieved on September 27, 1, after more than a decade of struggle led by figures like Miguel Hidalgo and José María Morelos. Created around that pivotal year in Oaxaca, a region rich in indigenous artistry, the object served as a folk emblem of national pride. Its title and timing suggest it captures the euphoria of liberation, transforming a humble natural vessel into a symbol of resilience and cultural rebirth. Fashioned from the hard shell of the Crescentia cujete tree gourd—a material revered in Mesoamerica...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...