Truth coming out of the well; Why is their a mask in this painting?

Can someone tell me why their is a Covid style mask on this person from this 1898 painting?

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Nec Mergitur (Nor is she submerged) or La Vérité sortant du puits (1898)


I was searching on the origin of this :

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From a Meme which says this:
""The Lie said to the Truth, "Let's take a bath together, the well water is very nice. The Truth, still suspicious, tested the water and found out it really was nice. So they got naked and bathed. But suddenly, the Lie leapt out of the water and fled, wearing the clothes of the Truth.
The Truth, furious, climbed out of the well to get her clothes back. But the World, upon seeing the naked Truth, looked away, with anger and contempt. Poor Truth returned to the well and disappeared forever, hiding her shame. Since then, the Lie runs around the world, dressed as the Truth, and society is very happy...
Because the world has no desire to know the naked Truth."
Painting: Truth Coming Out Of The Well, Jean-Léon Gérome, 1896.