MARTOR 31 / 2026

(Pre)figuring Physiognomy: Mask Making as an Interpretive Art among Romanian Artisans in Moldova
(Download PDF)

DOI: www.doi.org/10.57225/martor.2026.31.03

AUTHOR:

Marin Constantin
Francisc I. Rainer Institute of Anthropology, Romanian Academy, Romania

PAGES: 41-57

KEYWORDS: Mask making; artisans; portraying; Moldavia.

ABSTRACT: The present text explores the creativity of mask makers in Romania, particularly with regard refers to their knowledge to envision the figures that populate their art galleries. Indeed, to an important extent, mask making consists of reproducing human facial traits that are prefigured by artisans. Based on the author’ ethnographic material collected in the 2000s, this article examines mask making in several areas of Moldavia (Neamţ, Suceava, and Vrancea Counties), with particular emphasis on (1) local mask-makers’ interpretation of social portraits and self-portraits, as well as (2) their cultural “mission.”

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE:

Constantin, Marin. 2026. “(Pre)figuring Physiognomy: Mask Making as an Interpretive Art among Romanian Artisans in Moldova.” Martor 31, 41-57. [DOI 10.57225/martor.2026.31.03]

*

MARTOR applies to all published materials the Creative Commons Licence “Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives CC BY-NC-ND,” allowing others to download the published works and share them with others as long as they credit the author, but they can’t change them in any way, or use them commercially.