Masque Antique
Eugène Atget; Berenice Abbott
Description
Subject Matter:
In this photograph of an antique mask hanging on a wall, the open-mouthed face of the figure fills the frame of the image, with strong shadows that emphasize every crevice and curl of hair. Atget framed the mask so closely there is little contextual information to identify or place the object, although the scratched panel on which it hangs and the nail visible on the lower margin suggest it might decorate an interior wall. Atget had an uncanny knack for making the details of every day life seem strange, as here by concentrating attention on the mask's dramatic but illegible expression.
Physical Description:
Antique mask with carved curly hair and an open mouth.
Usage Rights:
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