A Chinese opera performance

Title

Year/Period

Early-mid 20th century

Region

Singapore

Object Type

positives (photographs), photographic prints

Material

photographic paper, ink

Technique

photographic processes, photographic printing techniques

Dimension

Image size: 8.2 x 13.2 cm,
Frame size: 8.7 x 13.6 cm

Accession No.

1995-00442

Collection of

National Museum of Singapore

Chinese opera performers are depicted here with painted faces, decorative headdresses and elaborately designed costumes. The art of face painting is of great importance in Chinese opera, whereby different colours symbolise certain characteristics. Red, for example, represents courage while black denotes impartiality.