The Ancient Colors in the Public Art of Tenochtitlan

The goal of my research was to explore the significance color held in Aztec public art found at Templo Mayor in the city of Tenochtitlan. By studying the coat of paint the monoliths had been covered with in the past, I hoped to discover how color enhanced the experience and meaning of key rituals done in relation to the public art. This research was done to help the public understand how the Aztec's religious beliefs influenced their art and why they expressed it with color. My key source was the 2017 Templo Mayor Museum article “Nuestra Sangre, Nuestro Color: La escultura polícroma de Tenochtitlan'' by Leonardo López Luján which directly speaks on the science behind the new color research for monoliths. However, my project heavily relied on the research done by Diana Magaloni in her book “The Colors of the New World” where she takes a closer look at the Florentine Codex illustrations that reveal to us the indigenous paint-making process. Through my investigation I determined that the significance color has in Aztec art, from their drawings to their monoliths, is based on what raw materials were used and where they originate from. The paints can be categorized into two groups, those made from organic materials which then symbolize the masculine solar world, or pigments that are telluric and are associated with the feminine underworld. The Aztecs would choose which paints to use based on this significance to represent different elements of their religion through their art.