Mask Collection (page 93)

Papua New Guinea - Elema people - Eharo Masks
Elema people (of the Papuan Gulf in southeast New Guinea) practicing an elaborate cycle of masked rituals. These monumental Eharo masks were created primarily for amusement

Italy. Pompeii. House of Venus. Fresco. Garden with birds ar
Roman Art. Italy. Pompeii. House of Venus or House of D. Lucretii Satrii Valentes. Fresco. Garden with birds around the fountain and mask. 1st century. Painted wall on south wall of peristyle

French Theatre -- Sottie du Prince des Sotz
Sottie du Prince des Sotz (Foolery from the Prince of Fools), by Pierre Gringore (Gringoire). Showing a musician in a red and grey fools costume, standing on one leg and playing the mandolin

Man in uniform and gas mask, WW2
Man in uniform, tin helmet and gas mask, posing in a garden, probably during the Second World War. Date: circa 1940s

WW2 birthday card, blackout scene
WW2 birthday card with blackout scene. Date: circa 1942

People wearing Venice Carnival Costumes, Venice, Italy Date: 2013

Woman wearing Venice Carnival Costume
Woman wearing costume at the Venice Carnival, Venice, Italy Date: 2013

Venice Carnival Jester Costume
Person wearing jester costume at the Venice Carnival, Venice, Italy Date: 2013

Gas helmet, WW1
A fearsome-looking gas helmet. An example of a gas mask issued to British soldiers during the First World War. The peculiar projection in front has its termination in the mouth so that the wearer

Two soldiers in flooded trench, Western Front, WW1
Two British soldiers in a flooded communication trench on the Western Front in France during World War One. Date: 1917

Chinese gas mask
A Chinese man wearing a gas mask during the Sino-Japanese War. Toxic gas was used frequently by Japanese forces during the war. Date: 1940

Six American soldiers caught in gas attack, WW1
Six American soldiers caught in a gas attack on the western front during the First World War. Date: circa 1918

India, Ladakh, Alchi, traditional puppets with hindu and buddhist face
India, Ladakh, Alchi, traditional puppets with Hindu and Buddhist face

MARGARET MEAD (1901-1978). American anthropologist. Photographed with a collection of masks, c1928

Resilient: Inspirational Quote and Motivational Poster
Resilient - Inspirational Quote and Motivational Poster. It reads Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit. ~ Bernard Williams

Courage: Inspirational Quote and Motivational Poster
Courage - Inspirational Quote and Motivational Poster. It reads: Courage is fear holding on a minute longer. ~ George S. Patton

Special operations forces combat diver with underwater propulsion vehicle

BASEBALL: CATCHER SIGNALS. Diagram of signals used by New York Giants catcher Earl Smith. Illustration, 1920

FASHION: FUR COAT, 1643. A woman wearing a mask and fur coat before Cheapside, London, England. Caption reads: The cold, not cruelty makes her weare / In winter

MEDIEVAL PUNISHMENT. Helmet with a jesters cap and bells, used as a means of degredation. Line engraving

Virulhok Giant Yaksha Demon Temple Guardian statue at Wat Phra Kaew Royal Palace complex in Bangkok
Virulhok (Wirunhok) Giant Yaksha Demon Temple Guardian statue at the Wat Phra Kaew Temple complex of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Royal Palace complex in Bangkok, Thailand

Traditional dancers at the Paro festival, Paro, Bhutan, Asia

Traditional dancer at the Paro festival, Paro, Bhutan, Asia

Pierrot and Harlequin, by Philippe Mercier (1689-1760). A scene from the Commedia dell Arte, in which Pierrot and Harlequin protect the honour of the doctors daughter

Hopi dancers, wearing Hemis Kachina masks and sprigs of evergreen, lined up at a pueblo in Arizona during the Niman
HOPI DANCERS, c1913. Hopi dancers, wearing Hemis Kachina masks and sprigs of evergreen, lined up at a pueblo in Arizona during the Niman Kachina or going home ceremony in the month of July

Aix galericulata, Mandarin duck and other birds
Large Series plate 35, a watercolour from the John Reeves Collection of Zoological Drawings from Canton, China

Man wearing a jester mask and costume at the Venice Carnival
Carnival goers take to the streets dressed in their finest costumes and masks to parade around St. Marks Square, celebrating the Venice Carnival in Italy. The theme for 2013 is Live in Colour

Person wearing a demon mask and costume at the Venice Carnival
Carnival goers take to the streets dressed in their finest costumes and masks to parade around St. Marks Square at night, celebrating the Venice Carnival in Italy. The theme for 2013 is Live in Colour

Gold mask. Pre-Columbian art. Jewelry. COLOMBIA. Bogotᮠ Gold Museum. Proc: COLOMBIA. Inza. Archaeological park of Tierradentro. Alto de San Andr鳮

Gas respirator equipment instruction, WW2
Auxiliary Fire Service members undergoing Gas Respirator equipment instruction during the Second World War

Auxiliary Fire Service gas mask training, WW2
Women of the Auxiliary Fire Service undergoing gas mask training during the Second World War

Uranium mining. Miner extracting uranium ore from an underground mine. This is the Gluboky uranium mine, in the Chita region of Russia

AZTEC MASK: XIPE TOTEC. Stone mask of Xipe Totec, god of life-death-rebirth, agriculture, the west, disease, spring, goldsmiths and the seasons. Aztec period, Mexico

YEIBICHAI CEREMONY, c1905. Navajo man impersonating a god, or Yeibichai, placing feather sticks, called kedan, around a pit with hot embers for men to sweat during the Yeibichi ceremony

female initiation mask, Sierra Leone, 1800-1900
Mende Mask, carved wood; made to fit over the head, helmet-wise; the lower rim, in front, is pierced to hold a fringe of grass or hair

Train-robbers, 1800s
Gunmen robbing a railroad train, late 1800s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Zuni Pueblo shalako
Shalako leading a ceremony at night, Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico, 1800s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Venice, Veneto, Italy; A mask in costume on the Bacino di San Marco with the cupola of Santa Maria della Salute in the background

A young Egyptian woman in traditional headdress
A striking young Egyptian woman in traditional headdress

Soldier wearing gas mask, 1918
British soldier wearing a gas mask and helmet on the Western Front in France during World War I in 1918

Devil mask, the Devil dance (La Diablada), carnival, Oruro, Bolivia, South America

Portrait of a Tobas warrior during carnival called The Devil Dance (La Diablada), Oruro, Bolivia, South America

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"Masks: Unveiling the Rich Tapestry of History and Culture" From the golden mask of Tutankhamun displayed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt to the haunting plague doctor masks depicted in 17th-century artwork, masks have played a significant role throughout history. In a vibrant 19th-century painting, Pulcinella is seen donning a mask while offering pasta to a little Pulcinella, showcasing how masks were not only used for disguise but also as symbols of tradition and entertainment. During times of war and conflict, masks took on new meanings. A recruitment poster for the Corps of Military Police reminds us of their importance in protecting soldiers' identities. Meanwhile, Jackie Robinson's daring steal home under catcher Andy Seminick's tag showcases how even sports embraced masks as tools for strategy and triumph. The dark days of World War II saw women wearing gas masks on the home front as protection against chemical attacks. These images serve as powerful reminders of resilience during challenging times. Masks also hold cultural significance beyond warfare. At Venice Carnival, two ladies adorned with blue and gold masks celebrate this UNESCO World Heritage Site's rich heritage and traditions. Even great composers like Ludwig van Beethoven found inspiration from life or death masks when studying his own features or those who came before him. The intricate details captured by these molds provide insight into their lives and legacies. Whether they are made from gold or worn out of necessity during wartime, whether they conceal our faces or reveal our true selves through artistry - these various types of masks remind us that behind every face lies a story waiting to be told, and are windows into different eras, cultures, emotions – connecting us all through time and space.