Apparently many visitors to the Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts consider this figure to be a baby (sometimes even a Chinese baby) because of the proportions and facial features. Some scholars have suggested that the head shape may “represent natural or intentional cranial deformation of infants”.
I had not heard of the Olmec people before I went to the Sainsbury Centre for this exercise – so I am pleased to have added to my existing knowledge of Central/South American culture.
My notes are here Hornbill Olmec figure