70 - Pair of masks from the Fang people. Gabon, early 20th century.

Pair of masks from the Fang people. Gabon, early 20th century. Carved and polychrome wood. Measurements: 48 x 23 x 15 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. A pair of anthropomorphic masks carved from wood, characterized by a pronounced geometric stylization of the features and intense expressiveness. Both feature stylized faces with small eyes, sharply arched eyebrows, a triangular nose, and an open mouth—elements that accentuate their enigmatic and ceremonial character. The boldness of the forms, the formal simplification, and the use of polychrome reflect the unique artistic power of traditional African sculpture. The Fang people, settled primarily in Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon, developed a rich artistic tradition closely linked to their spiritual beliefs and the worship of ancestors. Their sculptural work, primarily carved from wood, stands out for its expressiveness and its ability to synthesize the human figure through essential forms. Particularly renowned are the byeri figures, associated with ancestor worship, as well as the masks used in various ritual and community contexts. The geometric purity and expressive intensity of these creations sparked deep interest among European avant-garde artists, making Fang sculpture one of the major benchmarks of African art in the realm of international collecting.