Mask c. 1935

sculpture, wood

portrait

africain-art

sculpture

wood

This Inuit "Mask" from c. 1935, housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is a captivating example of Inuit artistic tradition. Carved from a single piece of wood, the mask displays a distinct, expressive face with exaggerated features. The rough, textured surface, resembling the natural environment, adds to the mask's primal and evocative aesthetic. The mask's purpose remains unknown, but its presence suggests a rich cultural significance within Inuit communities.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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For thousands of years, Inuit people in Alaska and Canada have been carving smooth, sometimes haunting and whimsical sculptures out of bone, walrus ivory, wood, and stone. Inspired by the world around them, artists depict the people, animals and things they encounter in their daily lives and rituals.