White Mask, Pangwe

1935

Walker Evans

Associated Names
Walker Evans

Artist, American, 1903 - 1975

The sculpture depicts a stylized, elongated face or mask with a smooth, oval shape that tapers toward the chin. The features are minimalistic, with small, barely defined eye openings and a shallow relief indicating the nose. The forehead is pronounced and broad. Carved lines above the eyes might represent eyebrows or markings. The material of the sculpture appears to be light-colored wood with a smooth texture. The overall tone of the piece is off-white or pale gray, with slight variations in shade due to texture or wear. In relation to the viewer, this mask has a serene and enigmatic presence, with its abstract features open to subjective interpretation without overt emotional expression.
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Artwork overview


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel A. Stern, Washington, DC; gift to NGA, 1991.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

lower center verso: Evans estate stamp with inventory number XX-410 added in graphite; center verso in graphite: 410; by later hand, lower left verso in graphite: 351

Wikidata ID

Q64171940

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