[Female Nude with Mask]
ca. 1870
![[Female Nude with Mask] by Unknown](https://images.artheonmuseum.org/met/ph/thumb/female-nude-with-mask-285695.webp)
Medium
Albumen silver print from glass negative
Dimensions
Image: 26 x 19.1 cm (10 1/4 x 7 1/2 in.)
Classification
Photographs
Department
Photographs
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gilman Collection, Gift of The Howard Gilman Foundation, 2005
Accession Number
2005.100.208
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the intimate glow of 19th-century photography, *[Female Nude with Mask]* (ca. 1870) captures a striking moment of vulnerability and mystery. This albumen silver print, made from a glass negative, the era's cutting-edge technique: egg whites (albumen) coated the paper to produce rich tonal depth and sharp detail, making it a hallmark of mid-19th-century imaging. Measuring 26 x 19.1 cm, the image reveals a female figure in the classical nude tradition, her face obscured by an enigmatic mask—an element that invites curiosity about identity, performance, or exotic allure. Created during photog...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...