Copy Print: Still Life with Five Bauhaus Theater Masks c. 1928 - 1949

Editor: This is T. Lux Feininger's "Copy Print: Still Life with Five Bauhaus Theater Masks." It’s a black and white photograph, quite small. The masks are eerie. What’s your take on this collection? Curator: Masks have always carried potent cultural weight, often signifying transformation or hidden identity. Here, Feininger presents masks removed from the body, displayed on shelves almost like specimens. What do you think this implies about the Bauhaus’s understanding of identity and performance? Editor: Maybe they saw identity as something constructed and performative, rather than fixed? Curator: Precisely. Consider how the Bauhaus explored breaking down traditional artistic boundaries. The masks could symbolize this experimental spirit, embracing new forms of expression while questioning the established order. It suggests a deliberate re-evaluation of the human form. Editor: That makes me think about the masks as stand-ins for the artists themselves, constantly reinventing their roles. Thanks for the insights.