*frame not included

8x10in, including white border.

This is a print reproduction of my original Cyanotype XOLOTL (original is sold). It is printed on a beautiful, fine-art matte cotton paper, with a border. Signed on the front. Additional sizes available upon request.

Please allow a couple of weeks for this item.

In Aztec mythology, Xolotl is a god who has the likeness of a dog. The twin of the Sun god Quetzalcoatl, Xolotl is the god of the underworld, of fire, lighting, deformities, and death. Each night, he accompanies and guards the Sun into the land of Death and uses it to procure light to the souls on their journey into the Afterlife.

After the gods created the Fifth Sun (our current era), they realized the Sun didn’t move across the sky. It needed fuel, which meant sacrifice. When asked to sacrifice himself, Xolotl refused and cried so much, his eyes fell out of their sockets. This story inspired this particular artwork.

Later, Xolotl and Quetzalcoatl ventured into the Underworld to retrieve the bones of humanity. From these bones, they restored mankind. The earthly dog was created from these same bones and presented to mankind as a gift from the gods. The men were instructed to protect and care for their dogs. In return, when the time comes, their dogs would guide their souls in the Afterlife. The deceased soul and its dog companion would wander side by side through hell for four years before finally reaching their ultimate destination, Mictlan.