Artwork
Grotesque Masks: Mask 9, Book I
Grotesque Masks: Mask 9, Book I is a print by the Baroque artist Aloisio Giovannoli. It dates from 1610 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Grotesque Masks: Mask 9, Book I is a print by Aloisio Giovannoli, dated to around 1610, and is part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a fantastical face with exaggerated features, including large eyes and a wide, tooth-filled mouth, surrounded by curly, leaf-like forms. This design is part of a series of 'grotesque' patterns, which were used as decorative motifs.
Technique & Style
The face is rendered with a sense of distortion, with wrinkled and bumpy skin, evoking a sense of melting or stretching. The surrounding forms resemble vines or seaweed, adding to the overall sense of fantasy and irregularity.
Context
The print was part of a book of unusual designs, reflecting the 17th-century interest in 'grotesque' patterns for decorative purposes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Aloisio Giovannoli (1550–1618) was an Italian artist, born in Civita Castellana.
