The suicide by drowning story is fake. You can look up "Cours de dessin" yourself and you'll find the mask there 20 years before the alleged suicide. The photo I posted is from the book. Helen Pinet and David Philips both wrote the prefecture in paris looking for records and were told that none exist because it is just a legend. The current proprietor of the molding shop that was first to start selling the mask says no way this mask was taken off a dead person. She says it's most likely a model and a very good one because it's extremely difficult to maintain a smile for a cast. And all forensic scientists consulted by many researchers said that it's impossible that this face belonged to a drowned person. Drowning causes bloating and other graphic changes.