Tina Modotti’s still life study of a native Mexican sculpture showcases the photographer’s embrace of Mexican culture and her skill at creating a compelling photographic composition from a minimum of elements. In this image, Modotti made the inspired choice of using tinfoil as a backdrop; placed just outside of the field of focus, the foil creates a mysterious and visually arresting background for the lively bird figure. As evidenced by the notation on the reverse of its mount, this photograph comes originally from the collection of Mexican artist Lola Cueto (1897-1978). Modotti and Cueto were friends, and both were involved in Mexico City’s dynamic 1920s art scene. Cueto’s work combined elements of Cubism and other aspects of Modernism with Mexican folk art. This photograph was subsequently owned by another friend of Modotti’s, Frances Toor (1890-1956), the anthropologist and publisher of the influential magazine, Mexican Folkways.