QUESTION: Examine and compare/contrast the use and creation of different styles of tribal masks throughout various African tribes. In what ways do the functions of the masks remain the same? How does one qualify these masks as art in Western culture when they are made for a practical purpose in these tribes?
3 BASIC MASK STYLES TO FOCUS ON:
   | DAN MASK The Dan Mask is a mask commonly used among the Dan tribe found in Liberia and along the Ivory Coast. These masks are considered incredibly sacred objects; they are believed to protect the wearer as well as allow for communication with the spirit world. Dan masks are most commonly used during ritual dances and ceremonies to allow for contact between the spirit world and the human world, and every Dan mask has a different use during these ceremonies. LWALWA MASK The Lwalwa Mask is utilized by the Lwalwa Tribe stretching from the Democratic Republic all the way into Angola. These masks are incredibly special, as they are only worn by men during ceremonies known as "bangongo", which is a ceremony in which young men are initiated into adulthood. These masks are considered some of the most valuable among the Lwalwa tribe, so the artisans who craft them are highly regarded. YOHURE MASK Yohure Masks are a vital part of the society of the Yohure tribe, a tribe who mainly resides on the Ivory Coast of Africa. These masks are created in order to help members of the tribe feel a better sense of peace with the death of one of their people--the masks represent Yu spirits who, when the mask is worn during a ceremony, can restore balance to a hurting tribe. The masks are considered incredibly powerful for this reason, they are often kept out of the site of women for fear of the dangerous supernatural powers. |
Click on the images below to enlarge. These photos depict real examples of the masks explained above, and characteristics can be noted between the graphically created images and real-life examples!
MAJOR THEMES
-use of masks in ritual ceremonies and gatherings
-masks often allow for a connection between the human world and the spirit world, thus they hold very significant religious meanings
-masks are generally considered very powerful and important
-special status is often attributed to artists that can create these masks, as it is seen to be a specialized, and sometimes even divine skill
OVERALL: Masks are created in these beautiful ways because of their significance, not simply as works of art. Many tribes use ornate detail and beautiful coloring in masks to emphasize their importance in the community, as well as honor the gods through a beautiful offering.
-use of masks in ritual ceremonies and gatherings
-masks often allow for a connection between the human world and the spirit world, thus they hold very significant religious meanings
-masks are generally considered very powerful and important
-special status is often attributed to artists that can create these masks, as it is seen to be a specialized, and sometimes even divine skill
OVERALL: Masks are created in these beautiful ways because of their significance, not simply as works of art. Many tribes use ornate detail and beautiful coloring in masks to emphasize their importance in the community, as well as honor the gods through a beautiful offering.
This video is so interesting in that it briefly explains how Picasso drew inspiration from African masks in his revolutionary, and honestly quite controversial, style of cubism. Many Western artists saw these masks as art, reveling in their aesthetic qualities and interesting geometry rather than truly understanding their symbolic and historical meaning. Are African masks simply art, or should they be considered something more because of their practical and often religious use in African tribes?
A few examples of work from Picasso's "African Period" (approx. 1906-1909). During this time, Picasso began to develop the early backings of Cubism, all inspired by the geometry and lines of African masks.
CONCLUSION
African masks are truly recognizable in their geometry and construction, unlike anything ever seen in the art world. As a result, many more Western artists, specifically Picasso, used these masks as inspiration for the geometry in his work, ultimately leading to the development of his style of Cubism. The numerous African tribes and unique mask styles of each allowed for limitless inspiration for these Western artists, however, many more Western artists did not truly understand the significance behind these masks, only admiring them for their aesthetic qualities.
African masks are truly recognizable in their geometry and construction, unlike anything ever seen in the art world. As a result, many more Western artists, specifically Picasso, used these masks as inspiration for the geometry in his work, ultimately leading to the development of his style of Cubism. The numerous African tribes and unique mask styles of each allowed for limitless inspiration for these Western artists, however, many more Western artists did not truly understand the significance behind these masks, only admiring them for their aesthetic qualities.
CITATIONS
Art and Painting: About Picasso's African Art. EHow, 2009.
Dan. Dean Gle Mask, late 19th-early 20th century. Wood, pigment, 9 3/4 x 6 x 3 in. (24.8 x 15.2 x 7.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evelyn K. Kossak, 80.244.
Lwalwa Mask 19th-10th century Democratic Republic of the Congo Wood, hide, pigment H. 12 5/8 x W. 8 x D. 7 1/2 in., The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979
Pablo Picasso, 1907, Head of a Sleeping Woman (Study for Nude with Drapery), oil on canvas, 61.4 x 47.6 cm, The Museum of Modern Art, New York
Pablo Picasso, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, 1907, Oil on Canvas, 243.9 cm × 233.7 cm, Location Museum of Modern Art. Acquired through the Lillie P. Bliss Bequest, New York City
Pablo Picasso, 1907, Nu aux bras levés (Nude)
Yohure. Mask, early 20th century. Wood, height: 12 in. (30.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Eugene Becker, 77.240.
Art and Painting: About Picasso's African Art. EHow, 2009.
Dan. Dean Gle Mask, late 19th-early 20th century. Wood, pigment, 9 3/4 x 6 x 3 in. (24.8 x 15.2 x 7.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evelyn K. Kossak, 80.244.
Lwalwa Mask 19th-10th century Democratic Republic of the Congo Wood, hide, pigment H. 12 5/8 x W. 8 x D. 7 1/2 in., The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979
Pablo Picasso, 1907, Head of a Sleeping Woman (Study for Nude with Drapery), oil on canvas, 61.4 x 47.6 cm, The Museum of Modern Art, New York
Pablo Picasso, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, 1907, Oil on Canvas, 243.9 cm × 233.7 cm, Location Museum of Modern Art. Acquired through the Lillie P. Bliss Bequest, New York City
Pablo Picasso, 1907, Nu aux bras levés (Nude)
Yohure. Mask, early 20th century. Wood, height: 12 in. (30.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Eugene Becker, 77.240.
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