Monday, November 17, 2008

death mask monday

Death masks have always fascinated me. It's amazing how peaceful the dead look, whether they were psychopathic creeps, military or artistic geniuses, or movie stars in life. The personal troubles and inner demons are gone, and the shell remains. The finality of the shot before internment or cremation is what gets me. Hitchcock

Himmler






Napoleon



Jesse James







Rommel






James Dean







Robert E. Lee









Butch Cassidy







Beethoven








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7 comments:

  1. Modern Needs November 17, 2008 at 10:10 PM

    I loved these. More, please.

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  2. Dr ZibbsNovember 18, 2008 at 6:32 AM

    I'd like to get the rights to the Himmler mask and market a line of pastel colored salad bowls using it.

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  3. floyd barberNovember 18, 2008 at 8:56 AM

    That's funny, I was thinking the himmler face could be shrunk down and worn as earrings for the stylish ladies of the world.

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  4. elponkNovember 18, 2008 at 9:50 PM

    love these. like a train crash..want to look away but cant! thanks for tagging on me..haha

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  5. Kristen BeamanNovember 19, 2008 at 6:34 PM

    very cool!
    where'd you find these?

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  6. floyd barberNovember 19, 2008 at 7:16 PM

    rabbit, just google death masks and you'll find a few sites. I keep stumbling upon creepy new ones I've never seen before.

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  7. Lance UppercutJanuary 9, 2010 at 11:58 AM

    If the subject wasn't actually dead when the impression was made, it's called a "life mask".

    The James Dean one was created during the filming of GIANT for the purpose of makeup tests. Had he gotten an actual "death mask" taken, it would have been a complete mess.

    The Hitchcock one pictured was also taken years before his death.

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