Matthew Robb recalls first encountering El Árbol de la Muerte: Maquilando Mujeres while exploring the Fowler’s collection. As a specialist in ancient Mexican art, he was struck by the sculpture’s vibrant, unusual form and its placement alongside West Mexican ceramics. Recognizing elements from the Tree of Life tradition, Robb found the piece both familiar and surprising, ultimately seeing it as a powerful statement on history, gender, and tradition.