69 - Dan mask. Ivory Coast, early 20th century.

Dan mask. Ivory Coast, early 20th century. Carved wood. Measurements: 22 x 14 x 9 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. An anthropomorphic mask of the Dan people, carved from wood and characterized by the stylization of its features and the simplicity of its forms. It features an elongated face with a broad forehead and narrow chin, a short nose with a flat base, and full lips. The simplification of the forms and the expressive intensity of the face reflect the artistic qualities of the Dan sculptural tradition, one of the most renowned in African art. The Dan people, settled primarily between Liberia and Ivory Coast, developed a rich artistic tradition closely linked to their spiritual beliefs and the social organization of their communities. In their culture, masks are manifestations of the spirits known as gle, to whom protective, ceremonial, and regulatory functions in collective life are attributed. Used in rituals, celebrations, and community events, these creations transcend their ornamental value to become important symbols of authority and spirituality. Their extraordinary capacity for formal synthesis and their expressive power also sparked deep interest among artists of the European avant-garde in the early 20th century.