Matsés girl demonstrating typical Matsés body art and facial painting.  According to some anthropologists, the function of the Matsés tattoos and body painting is to make them appear more fearsome to other tribes.  To the Matsés people, body art is simply a beautiful cultural tradition.  However, there are certain taboos associated with body painting.  For example, after the death of another member of their family or tribe, they typically have a mourning period during which body painting is prohibited.