Mask c. 900

sculpture

technical car design render

3d sculpting

3d model

rounded shape

shading render

3d character model

front view render

sculpture

3d modeling

3d character modeling

graphite

This Olmec mask, dating back to c. 900, is carved from stone and depicts a stylized human face. The mask features prominent eyes, a wide mouth, and a distinct, geometric pattern carved into the surface. The Olmec civilization, known for their monumental sculptures and intricate carvings, were a significant influence on later Mesoamerican cultures. This mask, now housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is a testament to their artistry and the enduring power of their symbolic imagery.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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This mask was created about 3000 years ago, perhaps as a portrait of a leader among the Olmec people of Mesoamerica (present-day southern Mexico). It was likely reserved for ceremonial use. An artist sculpted it from jadeite, then carved lines and highlighted them with a red mineral powder of mercury sulfide (cinnabar). These lines may replicate face paint or tattooing. The rare materials and symbolic designs, like the supernatural human-jaguar whose face hovers above the right eye, reflect the ruler's religious and political power.