Cigarette cards featuring Chinese opera masks, via NYPL Digital. Go there to see the whole set.

I took the title from Brian Eno (watch a promo video for China My China), who took it from a Beijing opera (watch a scene from a 1970 performance; turn your volume down a little first). It has nothing to do with this post, but it's a great title.

Also see:
—Paul Noll's huge collection of masks
—Kids making their own opera masks, lucha libre-style
—set of gigantic masks at Pipashan Park