Masks from Latin America

Masks from this region mix Aztec and African heritage, and show European influences from the Portuguese in Brazil, to the Spanish in Costa Rica and Cuba. Columbus first encountered the New World here. This collection traces the cultural geography that Dahl explored, and beckons readers to start their own journeys.

Dahl's masks from Chichén Itzá complement pictures from his travels, hinting at Aztec beliefs and practices.  His Brazilian masks were bought not in Brazil but in British Columbia, showing the growth of global trade and tourism.

The slave trade linked North America and Africa, with a focus on Cuba, and world politics maintain Cuba's links to Africa. Through a Cuban doctor friend practicing in South Africa, Dahl acquired an African mask that shows similarities to his Cuban masks.