THE HISTORY OF MASKS

GREEK MASKS  Greek masks of  Dionysus and of Pan

ROMAN MASKS Masks have been used for thousands and thousands of years in cultures around the world. Early masks were probably made from local materials

TRADITIONAL COMEDY AND TRAGEDY MASKS

MARDIS GRAS MASKS

History of Masks While early masks were made from common local materials. Harder-to-find or more precious materials would probably have been used to embellish more important masks in ancient times, as they are now.

ITALIAN RENAISSANCE MASKS: THE VENETIAN MASKS  Venetian masks depicted a variety of characters in the theatre.  Theses masks are the basis of many “classic” masks we see today.  The Bauta character had a shinning white face worn with a black silk cape by either men or women.  The Moreta or Murata was a black velvet oval shaped mask worn by ladies.

THE BAUTA MASK The Bauta is a White shiny mask- with decoration.

THE MORETTA MASK The Moretta is a Black Velvet, Oval shaped mask with decorations.

TODAY THE BAUTA AND THE MORETTA STYLES HAVE BLENDED

MASKS COME FROM ALL CULTURES AND ARE DEVELOPED FROM MANY STYLES

VILLAINS

“NOH” MASKS Japanese theatre also developed masks for their characters

NOH  The Noh mask was designed to show different emotions based on which angel it is viewed from.

NOH MASKS  In Japan masks belong to a highly developed theatrical tradition that was originally religious.  Of all the Japanese masks the Noh mask is said to be the most artistic one.  Originated in the At that time a very popular performance was 'Dengaku no Noh' which translates as 'Field-music Performance'  Its root were rustic acrobatic and juggling exhibitions.  1300s, Noh had become a kind of opera in which the performers recited while sitting next to each other and then danced.  1400s another type of Noh, Sarugaku, which used a lot of buffoonery, developed into a serious dramatic performance.