Masquerade
American Art

Masquerade
Artwork Details
Artist/Maker
Adolph Gottlieb
American, 1903–1974
American, 1903–1974
Date
1945
Medium
Oil and tempera on canvas
Accession #
2000.201
Dimensions
36 x 24 inches
Location
On View - Stent Family Wing, Level 3, Gallery 301
Description
Imbued with an ominous foreboding accentuated by its dark tonality, Masquerade is a classic example of Adolph Gottlieb’s pictographic style. Mysterious faces emerge from the depth of the painting as if recalled from a dream. Gottlieb reinforced this work—ostensibly a display of African masks—with earthy hues and textures. At the same time, his title directs attention to the use of masks throughout history and across cultures to act out ancient myths and rituals.
Credit
Purchase with High Museum of Art Enhancement Fund and 20th-Century Art Acquisition FundImage Copyright
© Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation/VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York