Matriarchal history serves as a significant influence on Barraza’s work: “My mother had all these wonderful stories. She was a great storyteller…she would tell us stories that I guess she had heard in her family”, explains Barraza in a 2003 interview with Dr. Cary Cordova. During her undergraduate studies, Barraza received pushback from professors about exploring Mexican American identity. It was this lack of representation that encouraged her to focus on unheard stories. In her Mujeres Nobles (Noble Women) series, pre-Columbian codices, portraiture, and landscape come together to create a representation of her ancestral history. Furthermore, the use of papel amate speaks to the deep roots of the fibrous tree and its resources, perpetuating the understanding of indigenousness as it pertains to the Indigenous populations in the Americas.

The small, intricately detailed figure held by the woman's hand could represent a personal connection to ancestral figures, spiritual guides, or the embodiment of cultural heritage being preserved and carried forward. Aztec Glyphs/Calendar Symbols: The row of symbols at the bottom strongly resembles Aztec calendar signs or glyphs, each carrying specific meanings related to days, elements, or deities in the Aztec worldview. For example, the jaguar symbolizes war and protection, and the feathered serpent (Quetzalcoatl) represents a significant deity.
The specific glyphs visible (e.g., possibly Cipactli/crocodile, Coatl/snake, Ocelotl/jaguar, Ollin/movement) likely contribute to a narrative of history, spirituality, and cultural heritage.
Tochtli (Rabbit): Often linked to fertility, drunkenness (pulque), and the moon
Ocelotl (Jaguar): Symbolizes power, strength, warfare, and the night sun.