[Chance Marmalade]

I suppose someone could make the white face represent death using their own interpretation, but I agree that it isn't the tradition. Even in basic mask work you don't use a "Death Mask". It's a neutral mask that shows life. If you were experimenting with an alternative form of clown or mask work I could see "death mask" but that's a stretch and a less interesting choice for the style in my opinion.

The white face to my knowledge comes from Commedia in which Pierrot who is always hungry has flour all over his face from cooking, while the red nose is from the jam he was gulping down.