Władysław T. Benda

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W.T. Benda, Circa 1940s
W.T. Benda, Circa 1940s

Władysław Teodor Benda (b. January 15, 1873 in Poznań, Poland - d. November 30, 1948 in Newark, New Jersey) was a Polish-American painter, illustrator, and designer.

Benda was educated in Kraków and Vienna. He emigrated to the United States in 1899 and became a U.S. citizen in 1911.

Benda's "Golden Beauty" Mask
Benda's "Golden Beauty" Mask

Benda's illustrations often appeared in Life, Vanity Fair and Vogue magazines. In addition to being an illustrator, he was also an accomplished mask-maker. Working in papiér-mâche, Benda's masks ranged from startlingly lifelike to comically grotesque. His book on the subject, simply titled Masks, is currently out of print.