καιρός remembered

Noh apparition

In a Noh museum, one naturally expects to see Noh masks. With their painted high eyebrows (hikimayu) and other typical features, Noh masks often look striking. But this mask, emerging from the darkness, looks more like a ghost, with elements of the background faintly shining through the face.
Are we looking at an illuminated mask behind glass in which the surroundings are faintly reflected, or are we looking at the surroundings through a glass pane in which the illuminated mask is reflected? If I remember correctly, it is the latter.

Photo of the week: Noh mask, Noh Museum, Sasayama, Japan 2008