A Grebo mask, Sassandra region, Ivory Coast. Certificate of origin and provenance. Incl. stand.

Grebo masks were traditionally used in warfare, ceremonies, and rituals to intimidate enemies, ward off malevolent spirits, or assert social status. They were also employed in initiation rites and funeral ceremonies, symbolizing the connection between the living and the spirit world.

"The masks of the Grebo people are among the most formidable and abstract in West African art. Characterized by their bold forms, with prominent, tubular eyes and sharp, angular features, these masks were designed to project power and instill fear. The protruding eyes symbolize vigilance and the ability to see both the physical and spiritual realms. Often painted in stark contrasts of red, white, and black, the masks were worn by warriors and during ceremonies to invoke protective spirits. Beyond their fearsome appearance, Grebo masks played a critical role in social regulation, initiation rituals, and maintaining ancestral connections, serving as both guardians and mediators within the community."
Source: "African Art: An Introduction" by Frank Willett

The striking abstraction of Grebo masks did not go unnoticed by European artists. When African art began to appear in European galleries and ethnographic museums in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, artists like Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, and Amedeo Modigliani were profoundly influenced. Picasso, in particular, is known to have encountered African masks, including those of the Grebo, in Paris, and these encounters radically transformed his artistic approach.

"The aesthetic of Grebo masks, with their tubular projections and boldly abstract forms, offered Western artists a new language of expression—one that transcended the confines of naturalistic representation. In the stark simplicity and power of these masks, artists like Picasso found a raw, unfiltered energy that spoke to the subconscious. This encounter did not merely inspire imitation but catalyzed a revolution in form and perspective, giving rise to Cubism and fundamentally altering the trajectory of modern art."
Source: William Rubin "Primitivism in 20th Century Art: Affinity of the Tribal and the Modern”.

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Height: 43 cm without stand
Weight: 1,5 kg incl. stand