Home / Artworks / Noh Mask of Ko-omote (Small face)

OMI KODAMA MITSUMASA

Noh Mask of Ko-omote (Small face)

Year Japan, Edo Period, 17th century
Medium Wood, pigment
Dimensions h. 21 cm 8 1/4 in.

About the artwork

A Ko-omote mask is a traditional Japanese Noh theater mask representing a young, innocent, and beautiful woman. Meaning "small face" or "second face," this white-painted, smiling mask is used by male actors to portray young women, noble ladies, or supernatural spirits, with subtle emotional changes achieved through tilting the head and lighting.

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Provenance

Yann Fernandin, Paris
Private Collection, Chicago

Questions about this work?

Antiquities Department

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