Mask c. late 19th century

This wooden mask, created by the Yombe people of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the late 19th century, is a powerful example of African art. The mask, carved in a realistic style, features a human face with a stoic expression. The dark brown patina on the wood adds a sense of age and tradition to the piece, which is now housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The mask was likely used in rituals and ceremonies, and its expressive features would have been essential in communicating with the spirit world.