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Article: Behind the Mask of the Olmec; At the National Gallery, a Dazzling Look At the First Great Mexican Civilation
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- June 30, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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They weigh tons and are twice the height of most mortals. They
radiate strength, confidence and stability. Yet their fleshy,
rounded features and slightly crossed eyes belie any sense of menace
implied by their scale. Masterfully carved, these colossal stone
heads are serene but altogether human as they squint past us into
infinity, inscrutable as the civilization they represent.
There are two such heads in "Olmec Art of Ancient
Mexico," the most spectacular exhibition of Olmec art ever assembled
in the United States, opening today at the National Gallery East
Building.
And while these stone heads are the weightiest objects
in this remarkable exhibition, there are 120 ...