The mask, as a basic artistic and religious
concept, helps us to visualize the invisible. In
ancient cultures the mask had many functions-
as entertainment, as symbols of life and death,
and the personification of spirits. Masks rarely
depict humans realistically, though they often
have human features. They are an artistic
creation that, when imbued with sufficient
energy, can act as a sort of bridge between the
wearer and the supernatural world. This superb
funerary mask shows the most elemental and
widely understood symbol of death- the skull.
Yet, it is much more than a representation of the
cessation of life. Placed in a tomb of a wealthy or
noble person, this mask may have been seen
more as a beginning than an end, the start of a
great journey into an afterlife as rich and varied
as the physical existence. The sheer volume and
massive strength of this mask attests to the
sculptor's great skill, which knew how to refine
details with elegance, grace and simplicity,
without losing any of its power and presence.
Viewing such an object is like being part of an
Ancient culture that understood many mysteries
of life, and allows us a glimpse through our own
imagination into their world.
- (PF.3453)
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