The art of the Incas: the Empire of weaving and gold
Last great pre -Columbian civilization before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, the Incas built a gigantic, structured and hierarchical empire. Their art, often sober in appearance, is deeply linked to their vision of the world: symmetry, functionality, symbolism and technical excellence are the pillars. The weaving and the work of gold occupy a central place there.
The Inca Empire in short
The Incas appeared in the 13th century in the region of Cuzco (current Peru) and extended their empire - the Tawantinsuyu - from north of the equator to the center of Chile , passing through Peru, Bolivia and part of Argentina.
In the 15th century, the Inca Empire became one of the largest and most organized in the world , before collapsing under the blows of the Spanish in 1533.
Inca art is an art of state , which reflects the imperial, cosmic and social order . It is at the same time utilitarian, ritual and political .
An art of weaving above all
🧵 textiles: more precious than gold
For the Incas, the fabric is not a simple garment: it is a language, a ritual object, a social marker . Some textiles called "Qompi" , woven by specialized crafts ( ACLLAS ), were reserved for the elite and divine offerings .
Inca textiles are distinguished by:
• Codified geometric patterns (diamonds, damiers, zigzags).
• Vive natural colors from vegetable or animal dyes.
• Extreme finesse in fibers, often from Lama, Alpaga or Vigogne .
👉 A garment could indicate the ethnic origin, the social rank, or the political function of the carrier.
📜 Patterns as language
Some textile reasons had information. Although the Incas did not have alphabetical writing, they used the Quipu , a system of cut cords used to record economic and administrative data - an art in itself.
Goldsmith and sacred metals
🪙 gold, the metal of the sun
Gold had a spiritual function , associated with the Inti , the Sun. Gold objects were used for:
• Religious rituals.
• Offerings in temples.
• Orne the bodies of nobles and sovereigns.
The Incas did not valorize gold for its economic rarity , but for its cosmic symbolism : gold = sun, silver = moon.
✨ Remarkable objects
• Funeral masks in hammered gold.
• Pectorals and nasal ornaments.
• Miniature statues of children, lamas or officiants , deposited in the sacred places.
The techniques used were hammering, molding, cold assembly and pushed it .
Inca ceramics: functional and standardized
Inca pottery is often less decorated than those of the Mochicas or the Nazcas , but they testify to great aesthetic uniformity through the Empire .
We find there:
• Aryballas (pointed bottom vases and narrow collar), intended to transport liquids.
• Simple geometric patterns : bands, triangles, Andean cross.
Red, black, white ceramics , sometimes polished to the extreme.
👉 This visual sobriety reflects the desire for aesthetic centralization wanted by the Inca State.
Architecture: monumentality and precision
The Incas have developed a dry stone architecture of incredible precision. Their constructions, without mortar, still resist the earthquakes today.
🏔️ iconic examples
• Sacsayhuamán : Fortress with Cyclopéens walls.
• Machu Picchu : Sacred city perfectly integrated into the landscape.
• Qorikancha in Cuzco: Temple of the sun formerly decorated with gold plates.
Inca architecture combines function, cosmic symbolism and harmony with nature . The stones are cut to fit perfectly , without being able to slide a blade between them.
Cosmology and symbolism
Inca art is imbued with a vision of the world called "pasha" , where the universe is divided into:
• Hanan Pasha : The world from above (sky, gods).
• Kay Pasha : The earthly world of humans.
• Ukhu Pasha : The underground world of ancestors and seeds.
Each work, each material, each motif participates in this tripartite cosmology , embodying a balance between nature, deity and society.
Inheritance and posterity
Inca art, although very structured, has left a lasting imprint :
• We find the influence in contemporary Andean cultures , especially in traditional Peruvian weaving .
• Many pieces are kept in museums around the world , notably in Lima, Cuzco, Paris (Quai Branly), London, New York or Berlin.
• He inspires contemporary creators, native artists, fashion or architecture designers .
Conclusion: Beauty, Master and Sacred
Far from the ornamental excesses, the Inca art strikes with its sobriety, its rigor, its technical precision . It is a reflection of a civilization which has managed to harmonize nature, society and spirituality through pure forms and noble materials.
In the next article, we will discover another fascinating Andean culture, with a much more expressive style: the Nazcas , masters of the desert and the sky.
Photo credit: by Icelight from Boston, Ma, US - Before Machu Picchu, CC by 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4200586
