Mask c. mid 20th century

This striking "Mask" was made by an artist from the Temne people. The mask has been built up slowly, coil by coil, with infinite patience, and I can imagine the Temne artist carefully building up the form, smoothing the clay, feeling their way intuitively. It’s like you’re constantly nudging and coaxing the material to become something more. Look how the artist has rendered a face so beautifully on the lower section. It’s this amazing superimposition that creates an uncanny harmony, where the face on the lower section merges with the face at the top, and also stands apart. The dark areas, like the hair, eyes, and mouth, create depth and shadow, emphasizing the contours of the sculpture. The ridges around the base add to the texture, giving the mask a tangible, almost organic presence. Artists respond to one another across time and geography. This Temne artist probably never heard of Picasso, but look at the way the faces share affinities!