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The face occupies not only a central place in identity, but is also the main means of expressing human self-expression, emotions and character. It symbolizes intelligence and strength, is often seen as a window into the soul and is the focus of attention when meeting people. How were faces depicted in different cultures — in the likeness or idealized; masked or explicit; newborns, in the prime of life, dying or even dead? Why has the image of a human face occupied such a central place in artistic expression in all world cultures? Art historian Debra Mankoff explores the image of the human face using the full range of objects and works of art from the collection of the British Museum, and she discovers how the face subtly conveys the entire spectrum of human emotions on different continents and over the centuries. Organized thematically (Birth and Childhood; Love and Beauty; Faith, Ritual and Mythology; Rulers and War; Identity and Disguise; Everyday Life; Death and the Afterlife), each of the book's chapters begins with a brief introduction before depicting faces in various pairs and groups, offering insight into the experiences we all share as human beings.

Автор на обложке

Debra Mancoff