"la Belle Madeleine" Mask, Luba People, Drc

Mask representing a fairly regular female face. The skin tone is white and enhanced with black pigments that highlight the eyes, eyebrows, nasal bridge, and scarifications. Black is also used for the headdress. The regularity and centralized alignment of the scarifications could evoke a stylized cross, reinforcing a Christian connotation. The gaze is fixed and the bearing determined.
These masks are called "La Belle Madeleine" or "Magdalena" by the locals and are believed to represent a Catholic nun or "Mama Maria," the Virgin Mary. Like the female ancestor spirit masks, "La Belle Madeleine" is an idealized representation of women. It is possible that these new female icons replaced the old images of idealized women.
These masks are rare and intriguing. They reflect both the richness of Luba traditions and the impact of cultural exchanges with Christian Europe. They symbolize a fusion between local spirituality and foreign religious influences, testifying to the ability of African artists to integrate and reinterpret external elements while retaining their cultural identity.
Wood, pigments, rope
Height: 31.5 cm
Luba people, Manono territory, DRC
Mid 20th century
Provenance:
ex-Belgian collection.
Ex German collection.
Ex Peter H. Loebarth (1941-2015).
Sold with its base