Archival Note Card | Chinese Opera Masks - #20

Black-and-white face in dense swirls wears a crown of blue and red ornament.

This archival note card from the chinese opera masks series, no. 20, titled "treble cleft". It is paper. Chinese opera uses painted face patterns, known as lianpu, in which color and design generally signal a character's temperament, role or moral standing. Long card in a gold border. The mask is packed with curling white, red and black scrollwork and a white-edged brow, set above a wide scowl. A heavy blue and white collar and green plumes flank the face. It is 4.25 inches long and 5.5 high.

Pattern on pattern, and not a stroke wasted.