Archival Note Card | Chinese Opera Masks - #21

Red helmet and black face with a pink stripe glare from above a dark beard.

This is an archival note card from the chinese opera masks series, no. 21, titled "mantis". It is paper. In many Chinese opera traditions, a red painted face is generally read as loyal and upright and a white one as cunning, though conventions vary by regional style. Vertical card on a black mat. A pink bar runs down the nose between white-rimmed black eyes, and a tall red headpiece with blue and gold touches crowns the head. The beard is long and charcoal. Script sits at lower right. It is 4.25 inches long and 5.5 high.

Helmet first, scowl second, beard last.