4 - Mask; possibly from Nicaragua, 20th century.

Mask; possibly from Nicaragua, 20th century. Carved and polychrome wood. Measurements: 27 x 32 x 10 cm. Provenance: Estate of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Artistic and heritage collection originating in the legacy of Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a seminal figure of 19th-century Catalan Realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935). Passed down and enriched across successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original holdings of both artists alongside acquisitions made by their descendants. Dedicated to preserving and recovering the family legacy, the descendants actively reacquired works by the painters as they entered the market, progressively expanding the collection to encompass paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other items of artistic and historical significance. This mask is likely associated with the theatrical performance of El Güegüense, one of the most representative forms of Nicaraguan folk theater, designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The piece appears to correspond to the character of Macho Ratón, a central figure in this satirical work that combines theater, music, dance, and oral tradition, and which constitutes an expression of Nicaragua’s cultural hybridity. The masks play a fundamental role in the characterization of the characters and in the development of the performance.