Coming from the chthonic realm, the mischievous and excitable jauk is, by tradition, a follower of the barong -- the lion/dragon protector of the Balinese village. Earlier in this century, it became common to act whole stories represented by jauk -- in both their sweet (manis) and strong (keras) manifestations; more recently, the theatrical vitality of the mask and its accompanying dance has been used to catch the attention of audiences in virtuoso performances at the start of various theatrical forms, including topeng. Jauk masks require their own unique costume and headdress and are frequently danced by a specialist. The type displayed here is particularly strong in its conception and for that reason, as well as for its coloring, is recognizable as a Jauk Durga.