Expression of terror

1854-1856, printed 1862

Guillaume-Benjamin-Amant Duchenne (de Boulogne)

Associated Names
Guillaume-Benjamin-Amant Duchenne (de Boulogne)

Artist, French, 1806 - 1875

This photograph shows a realistic mannequin head with a bald top and some hair on the sides, displaying a surprised or pained expression. There are metal rods or wires connected to its face and neck. A person in the background, wearing a dark vest over a light shirt, is adjusting or manipulating the fixture on the mannequin. The lighting and focus create a dramatic atmosphere.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    albumen silver print

  • Credit Line

    Pepita Milmore Memorial Fund

  • Dimensions

    image: 21.5 × 16 cm (8 7/16 × 6 5/16 in.)
    mount: 40.5 × 27.8 cm (15 15/16 × 10 15/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2015.52.28

  • Portfolio Title

    Mécanisme de la Physionomie (The Mechanism of Human Facial Expression)

Associated Artworks

See all 32 artworks
The image shows a man facing the camera with a slight turn to his right. He has a stern expression, prominent cheekbones, a furrowed brow, thinning hair on the top of his head, and slightly unkempt longer strands on the sides. He wears a light-colored, partially unbuttoned shirt revealing his chest, and dark pants or a belt. There are no visible pieces of jewelry or objects being held. The background is plain with a subtle gradient from light to dark.

Face in repose

Guillaume-Benjamin-Amant Duchenne (de Boulogne)

1854

This is a photograph of a closed album cover with French text. The album cover is made of a textured material with a dark green hue. It features embossed text in gold, stating "Dr Duche(enne de Boulogne)" and "MÉCANISME DE LA PHYSIONOMIE ALBUM" across the front. The text is centered, with varying sizes and styles to distinguish between titles and subtitles. Decorative horizontal lines are present above and below some of the text. The album is tied on the side with beige or light brown fabric ties. The overall appearance is formal.

Mécanisme de la Physionomie (The Mechanism of Human Facial Expression)

Guillaume-Benjamin-Amant Duchenne (de Boulogne)

1862

The image shows a man from the waist up. He has a mustache, medium-length wavy hair, and crossed arms. He is looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression. The man is wearing a loose-fitting, light-colored shirt and there is no visible jewelry. The background is plain with a sepia tone. The photograph is presented within an oval frame with darkened edges.

Face in repose

Guillaume-Benjamin-Amant Duchenne (de Boulogne)

1854

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Alphonse Bertillon, Paris; by descent to Pascal Vincent-Bertillon, Paris; NGA purchase (through Denis Canguilhem, Paris), 2015.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2015

  • In Light of the Past: Celebrating Twenty-Five Years of Collecting Photographs at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, May 3 – July 26, 2015

Inscriptions

upper center of mount in black letterpress: Électro-Physiologie Photographique. / Fig. 62. ["2" written over in graphite with "3"]; lower center-right of mount in black letterpress: Duchenne (de Boulogne), phot.

Wikidata ID

Q64154679

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