The History of Masks

A short review

“Mask

is a form of disguise. It is an object that is frequently worn over or in front of the face to hide the identity of a person and by its own features to establish another being. This essential characteristic of hiding and revealing personalities or moods is common to all masks. As cultural objects they have been used throughout the world in all periods since the Stone Age and have been as varied in appearance as in their use and symbolism.”

African Masks

“In Africa masks can be traced back to well past Paleolithic times. These art objects were, and are still made of various materials, included are leather, metal, fabric and various types of wood. African masks are considered amongst the finest creations in the art world and are highly sought after by art collectors.”

Chokwe, African Mask Samples

African Masks Cont.

“Many of the pieces, some replicas, can be viewed in museums and art galleries in many parts of the world. Masking ceremonies in Africa have great cultural and traditional significance. Latest developments and understanding of aesthetic principles, religious and ceremonial values, have brought about a greater insight into the ideas and moral values that African artists express in their art.”

Bamileke Mask Samples

Mexican Masks

The following slide is the Diablo mask. It is made of paper mache and is 13 inches. “Over-sized paper masks have a long history in Mexico, especially in the Federal District. Could it be that these flamboyant masks anticipate the exotic paper mache art now being created in Mexico City and sold in galleries around the world?”

Diablo Mask

Devil Masks from Mexico

European Masks

The following slide is of a mask from Romania. “Romanians used masks in rituals concerned with fertility, rainfall, hunting and for initiations in ancient times. Today they are still used to represent characters from folk mythology at special holidays such as Christmas and New Years, or for an important life events like a wedding or a death. Only men wear them. It is forbidden to say the name of the person under the mask.”

Romanian Folk Mask

Harlot Mask, Fasching Celebration, Germany “Fasching, also called Carnival, was an annual festival very much like

the Mardi Gras and has been celebrated since the 13th century in many German cities and villages”

Tengu Mask from Japan

“Tengu are some of the oldest mythological deities in Japan. They inhabit trees, are good swordsmen, and are fond of playing tricks on human beings. Being part bird and part man, they have wings and large noses or beaks. Now days, long-nose Tengu find their way into many homes and local Matsuri festivals, as a phallic symbol indicative of fertility and good harvest.”

Diablico Sucio Mask, Panama

“Like most Caribbean art, this mask is derived from both the African and Roman Catholic traditions, practices dating back to Colonial times. Especially after the plague, the macabre and devil were themes for many celebrations in Europe. In the case of the devil dances in Panama, they all serve a religious purpose.”

North American Masks, The Corn Husk Mask

“There is an Iroquois society of Husk Faces or Bushy Heads. Their masks look like braided door mats on which the pile is cut off the inside for the face, leaving a bushy fringe around the outside.” “Husk faces are said to be a race of agriculturalists who taught mankind hunting and agriculture. They visit the Seneca long house during two nights of the Midwinter Festival. Nowadays these are made by a number of northeastern tribes.”

Masks of Today

When thinking of masks used today in the United States, two holidays come to mind. The first one is Mardi Gras celebrated traditionally in New Orleans. The second holiday is Halloween, which was originally called All Hallows Eve. The following slides are pictures of masks designed for these two holidays. These are included to give you ideas for your portrait mask assignment.

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras

Halloween

Halloween

Halloween

Functional masksSome of today’s masks also have a real function. The next few slides are some samples to view. See if you can recognize what they are used for.

Functional masks

Functional masks

References

http://gallery.sjsu.edu/masks/Imagesfram.html

http://hallowfreaks.com/cgi-bin/members/pub9990280343076.cgi?itemid=9990292868495&action=viewad&categoryid=9990280343742&page=1&placeonpage=2&totaldisplayed=15

http://www.anymask.com/historyofmask.html

http://www.masksoftheworld.com/Caribbean/Caribbean%20Pananma%20mask%205.ht

http://www.masksoftheworld.com/Europe/Europe%20Romania%20Mask.htm

http://www.masksoftheworld.com/Europe/German%20Harlot%20Mask.htm

http://www.halloween-mask.com/index.htm

References cont.

http://www.mardigrasmasks.com/

http://www.masksoftheworld.com/index.html

http://www.masksoftheworld.com/Mexico/Mexico%20Mask%20Diablo%205.htm

http://www.masksoftheworld.com/NoAmerica/Native%20America%20Iroquois%20Cornhusk%20Mask.htm

http://www.masksoftheworld.com/Orient/Japan%20Mask%20Tengu%205.htm

http://www.rebirth.co.za/African_mask_history_and_meaning.htm

References cont.

http://www.rebirth.co.za/images/Chokwe_mask_EBR_2347.jpg

http://www.rebirth.co.za/images/SLF_0221.jpg