Framed Amate No 8

Natural wood frame
Amate paper paired with natural linen
17” W x 21” H

Amate paper, tracing back to Mexico's pre-Hispanic era, is crafted from the bark of fig, nettle, or mulberry trees. The bark, once boiled, is beaten against a board, forming fibrous sheets of paper. Its production, dating to at least 75 A.D., was integral to Mesoamerican cultures like the Maya and Aztec for record-keeping and religious rites. However, Spanish colonial rulers once banned its making to curb native traditions.

The enduring journey of amate paper from ancient to modern times mirrors Mexico's rich cultural tapestry and its unyielding spirit in safeguarding indigenous crafts through centuries of challenges.