Unveiling the Courage: A WWI Soldier's Journey of Fitting for Prosthetic Masks

During World War I, Anna Coleman Ladd, a renowned American sculptor from Boston, shifted her focus to aiding the Red Cross. However, she soon realized her artistic talents could be used to help soldiers with facial disfigurements caused by the devastating new weaponry of the war. Ladd utilized her studio to meticulously craft lifelike facial reconstruction masks for wounded soldiers, a process that involved creating a cast of the soldier's face and hand-painting the finished mask with intricate details, including real facial hair. These masks, which could take up to a month to complete, were primarily made for French soldiers but also for American servicemen. Explore the haunting collection of Ladd's prosthetic masks, each a testament to her compassion and skill in helping these brave individuals regain their sense of self.