Untitled

Unknown

ca. 1700–1750 · Wood with cloth and polychrome · Asian Art

In this extraordinary mask ensemble, the crowned head of Narasimha is accompanied by a body suit with six articulated arms. The stage presence of the actor who wore this ensemble, fully absorbed into the role of the ferocious man-lion avatar, would have been awesome when seen on the dimly lit stage during the all-night performance. The paint on this mask was refreshed each year for ritual use, and each forearm of the body suit has a cavity into which talismanic objects were sealed to enhance the efficacy of Narasimha’s representation on stage.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1700–1750

Medium

Wood with cloth and polychrome

Culture

Southern India, Tamil Nadu, probably Thanjavur district

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Purchase, The Vincent Astor Foundation Gift and The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Foundation Fund, 2015