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Mask of an Elder
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
The traditional Korean mask dance is a form of drama featuring the wearing of masks such as this one, singing and dancing. It was originally a regional term only applied to mask dances traditional to Hwanghae Province. During the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), the dance rose to popularity among villagers as a means of self-expression and liberation, often criticizing injustice of society.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineMask of an Elder (노인탈 [老人面具]), 1800s. Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910). Wood with horsehair; mask: 20.3 x 6.1 cm (8 x 2 3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund, 1989.103
