Mexican Amate Bark Paintings

Amate (pronounced “ah-MAH-tay”) is a type of paper produced from the fibers of the bark of fig trees.They will boil the tree barks and take out all the fibers then dry under the sun . This paper process is quite interesting. Beginning in pre-Hispanic times, different indigenous groups used the amate to communicate with others. For example, the Aztecs used the amate paper to register data, or as a gift for soldiers. In today’s Mexico, the Otomí people of Central Mexico produce this paper in a way similar to its historical origins. However, now Nahua artisans paint intricate birds, colorful plants, and whimsical animals on the amate so that it can be used for decoration.