Archival Note Card | Chinese Opera Masks - #24

Mirrored black-and-white swirl on the forehead, set under a dark blue cap.

This is an archival note card from the chinese opera masks series, no. 24, titled "rorschach". 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. Portrait card in a gold border. Symmetric inkblot patterns in black and white cover the brow and cheeks, with a small dark nose and mouth below. Two tall grey blades rise at the sides and a long green beard falls down the chest. It is 4.25 inches long and 5.5 high.

A face that invites a second look.