Mask of Hanako (Ohta Hisa, 1868–1945)
Auguste Rodin French
Cast by Alexis Rudier French
Not on view
This mask is part of a series in which Rodin sought to convey the intense expressivity of his model’s face. The actress known as Hanako performed westernized adaptations of Japanese Kabuki theater written by her agent, the famous American dancer Loie Fuller, under the pseudonym Loi-Fu. While the mask shows a peaceful countenance, the performances typically ended in bloody harakiri (ritual suicide) scenes, during which Hanako captivated audiences with her expressions of anguish.
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