An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Figure 45: Contraction électrique forte des triangulaires des lèvres et des sourciliers: douleur et déspoirMécanisme de la physionomie humaine
c. 1856, printed 1862
Guillaume-Benjamin-Amand Duchenne
Duchenne embarked on the first scientific, systematic exploration of the physiology of human facial expression and hoped, through photographs of his experiments, to teach artists how to portray those emotions. The experiments were performed by applying electrical stimulation to a single muscle on one side of the face, so that the viewer could clearly see the impact of the muscular contraction.
Duchenne, a neurologist at a hospital for the poor in Paris, turned to photography to record the grammar of human expression.
Albumen print from glass plate negative
Image: 23.5 x 17.9 cm (9 1/4 x 7 1/16 in.); Oval opening: 16.2 x 11.9 cm (6 3/8 x 4 11/16 in.); Mounted: 41.2 x 27.4 cm (16 1/4 x 10 13/16 in.)
John L. Severance Fund
In a gentle realm where art intertwines with science, a man named Duchenne set forth on an extraordinary journey. Driven by a profound curiosity about the intricacies of human emotion, he sought to unravel the secrets hidden within our very expressions. With a soft determination in his heart, he embarked on the first scientific exploration of the physiology of human facial expression, a task that would bridge the gap between raw emotion and the artist's canvas.
Armed with his knowledge and an unyielding spirit, Duchenne donned his lab coat, stepping into a world where muscles danced beneath the skin, revealing the soul's whispers. His experiments were simple yet radiant; he applied electrical stimulation to a single muscle on one side of the face. Each subtle jolt of electricity transformed the canvas of flesh and bone, capturing the essence of joy, sorrow, and everything in between. With each contraction, the viewer was invited to witness firsthand the profound impact on the visage—a window to the heart, a pathway to understanding.
Through the lens of his camera, captured moments seemed to bloom like spring flowers in the sun. Duchenne dreamed of sharing this bounty with artists, to teach them not only to paint the hues of their imaginations but to echo the symphony of human experience through their brushstrokes. Faces lit with laughter, shadows of grief, the echoes of hope; he envisioned a renaissance of empathy where painters could translate the subtle language of our features into art that resonated with the very core of humanity.
In that tranquil pursuit, Duchenne became not just a scientist but a storyteller—one who unveiled the delicate narrative written in our expressions, gifting the world a deeper understanding of what it means to feel and to create. Through him, the harmony between emotions and art began to blossom, reminding us that behind every painted face lies a world of stories waiting to be told.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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