Reflections and shadows

These ladies are viewing Mende Masks at the  High Museum.   These Masks were created by the Mende People in Sierra Leone.   This is a description of the masks from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  A representation of the guardian spirit of Sande -- a powerful pan-ethnic women's association responsible for education and moral development -- the work alludes to an idealized female beauty. Worn at performances to celebrate the completion of the young initiates' training period, these masks are finely carved to convey admired feminine features: an elaborate coiffure, a smooth broad forehead, narrowly slit eyes, a small composed mouth, and a sensuously ringed neck.