African Mask

Oil on masonite painting of a Batabwa mask from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mask is is reddish-brown with blue and white markings; the eyes and eyebrows are highlighted in blue, and the mouth is outlined with white dots. The mask has a long face with close-set eyes and dark hair pulled back and elaborately braided atop the head, and it casts a shadow to the right. The background consists of a pattern of light brown birds resembling cranes against a beige ground.