Mask late 19th-early 20th century

pigment, wood

3d sculpting

3d model

pigment

sculpture

3d character model

sculptural image

unrealistic statue

sculpting

polycount

3d modeling

wood

3d character modeling

This wooden mask, created by the Pende people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, dates back to the late 19th or early 20th century. The mask, characterized by its distinctive features, including the carved, stylized face, the pierced brow, and the open mouth, is a powerful example of Pende artistic expression. It is currently housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, offering visitors a glimpse into the cultural significance of masks within Pende society.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Most masks of the Pende people have specific names that reveal their gender, meaning and function. However, it is rarely possible to identify a Pende mask without seeing the accompanying dress and dance. At first glance, the facial characteristics of this mask look female, expressing ideals of placidity and self-control. Yet men also share these qualities, and with its bulging, lumpy forehead, this mask most likely embodies a male. Traditionally, it is not uncommon for Pende masks to combine male and female traits.