Vicús nude woman with braids

The body can communicate meanings among people. In addition to the use of language and gestures, the body can be modified to indicate gender, social status, religion, ethnicity and the other identity markers that define an individual.
This ceramic sculpture depicts a Vicús woman with her hair arranged in two braids that encircle her head. She is also wearing face paint, indicating a notion of beauty that can seem unfamiliar to the western contemporary world.