Moon Masque

Loïs Mailou Jones, Moon Masque, 1971, oil and collage on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of the artist, 2006.24.5
Loïs Mailou Jones, Moon Masque, 1971, oil and collage on canvas, 4130 18 in. (104.176.4 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of the artist, 2006.24.5

Artwork Details

Title
Moon Masque
Date
1971
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
4130 18 in. (104.176.4 cm)
Credit Line
Bequest of the artist
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil and collage on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Abstract
  • Landscape — celestial — moon
  • African
  • Dress — costume — mask
Object Number
2006.24.5

Artwork Description

At the center of Moon Masque is a papier-mâché replica of a heart-shaped white Kwele mask from Zaire surrounded by masklike profiles and designs drawn from Ethiopian textiles. Though stylized, the faces resemble actual individuals whose profiles are juxtaposed with tears falling from the eyes of the mask. It is tempting to speculate that the mask, representing heritage and tradition, weeps for the situation of contemporary African peoples.


African American Art: Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era, and Beyond, 2012

Works by this artist (23 items)

Loïs Mailou Jones, Les Fétiches, 1938, oil on linen, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by Mrs. Norvin H. Green, Dr. R. Harlan, and Francis Musgrave, 1990.56
Les Fétiches
Date1938
oil on linen
On view
Loïs Mailou Jones, Noël, ca. 1937-1948, pen and ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of the artist, 2006.24.14
Noël
Dateca. 1937-1948
pen and ink on paper
Not on view
Loïs Mailou Jones, Les Clochards, Montmartre, Paris, 1947, casein on board, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of the artist, 2006.24.9
Les Clochards, Montmartre, Paris
Date1947
casein on board
Not on view
Loïs Mailou Jones, Textile Design for Cretonne, 1928, watercolor on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of the artist, 2006.24.10
Textile Design for Cretonne
Date1928
watercolor on paper
Not on view

Exhibitions

Media - 1995.22.1 - SAAM-1995.22.1_1 - 65784
African American Art in the 20th Century
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is home to one of the most significant collections of African American art in the world.

More Artworks from the Collection

Support for the Works
Date1998
found metal, clothing, cire, nails, oil enamel, and industrial sealing compound on canvas on wood
Not on view
Laddie John Dill, Untitled, n.d., oil and glass on wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Edith S. and Arthur J. Levin, 2005.5.18
Untitled
Daten.d.
oil and glass on wood
Not on view
Rudy Fernandez, Escape, 1987, painted wood, neon, lead and oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Frank K. Ribelin, 1988.48
Escape
Date1987
painted wood, neon, lead and oil on canvas
Not on view
Unidentified (American), (Underpass--New York), 1933-1934, oil on photograph on canvas mounted on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the Internal Revenue Service through the General Services Administration
, 1962.8.41
(Underpass – New York)
Artist
Unidentified (American)
Date1933-1934
oil on photograph on canvas mounted on paperboard
On view