Henry Moore OM, CH

This is one of three mask sculptures cast in concrete by Moore in 1929. Although its title declares it to be a mask, it was not designed to be worn. The sculpture may have been inspired by Moore’s interest in pre-Columbian art from Central and South America, particularly ancient Aztec sculpture. He imagined a correlation between Aztec sculpture and ancient Aztec culture. He characterised this in terms of ‘its vigorous simplicity, power, almost fierceness.’ Moore experimented with unusual sculptural materials. Concrete had recently been developed, and this cast was probably made from a clay original.