The duality between life and death this piece seems to want to express is present in many cultures of pre-Hispanic Mexico, becoming especially present in the later cultures, immediately prior to the arrival of the Spanish.

Death, which was usually expressed by skulls and fleshless bodies, as in this case, is furthermore painted red here, accentuating the contrast between the two halves. There is no doubt about the ritual function of this image, which must have played an important role in the religious context for which it was conceived and created.

Death remains an important cultural reference in Mexico to this day, and the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), celebrated on the 1st of November, is a festivity in which the keynote falls on the religious syncretism between the pre-Columbian traditions, such as that of this piece, and the contribution of Christianity.