Exhibition at the museum
Masks, from Carpeaux to Picasso
From October 21st, 2008 to February 01st, 2009
-
Revealing while concealing, serving both religion and worldly pleasure, the mask goes back to the dawn of time. In the late 19th century, when the principles of Naturalism were being confronted, it saw a massive, inventive and somewhat disconcerting revival, benefiting from the interest at the time in ancient Greece, Japan and close-up photographic portraits.
All the arts contributed to the revival of the mask, from painting to avant-garde theatre. Some of the most creative artists of the time, throughout the whole of Europe — Ensor, Munch, Vallotton, Böcklin, Klinger, Gauguin and Picasso — added their names and their aesthetic to this strange fashion.
The exhibition is now over.
See the whole program