Two Fantastical Masked Masculine Heads 1525 - 1600

This sheet, titled "Two Fantastical Masked Masculine Heads," uses etching to depict two men in profile with elaborate headgear. The artist is unknown and the date unconfirmed, yet the artwork resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The male figures face one another, adorned in detailed masks and helmets, which obscure and augment their identities. The masks themselves are smaller faces, suggesting layers of persona and the performance of masculinity. On one side we see masks of comedy and tragedy, while on the other, a helmet takes the form of a snarling animal. This emphasis on disguise invites us to consider the societal expectations placed on men and how they construct and perform their roles. Do these masks empower or confine? How might societal pressures impact our identities? Perhaps the answer lies in the silent dialogue between these two masked figures.