Mask of an Elder
Unknown Artist
1800s
Medium
wood with horsehair
Dimensions
h. 33.7 cm · mask: 20.3 × 6.1 cm, l. 13.2 cm
Classification
Wood
Department
Korean Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
Accession Number
1989.103
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The traditional Korean mask dance is a form of drama featuring the wearing of masks such as this one, singing and dancing. It was originally a regional term only applied to mask dances traditional to Hwanghae Province. During the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), the dance rose to popularity among villagers as a means of self-expression and liberation, often criticizing injustice of society. Talchum: The Traditional Mask Dance of South Korea South Korea offers a vast array of experiences that are both...