Mask c. 20th century

This wooden mask was created by an artist from Michoacan, Mexico. It’s got these incredible swirls and curls carved into the wood, like a wild, untamed energy was captured in the making of it. The surface is painted with warm yellows and oranges for the skin, contrasted by the deep blacks and greys of the beard and hair. Look closely, and you’ll see the rosy blush on the cheeks, almost cartoonish, giving the face a sense of life, despite its rigid form. There's this one spot right above the lip where the carving is particularly deep. It gives the mask a sort of worried or pensive expression. The way the mouth is slightly open just adds to that feeling. The mask reminds me of some of the German Expressionist paintings I've seen, where emotions are exaggerated and distorted. It's a powerful reminder that art doesn’t always need to be pretty or perfect. Sometimes, it’s the raw, unfiltered expression that hits you the hardest.