Discontent, bad humor

1854-1856, printed 1862

Guillaume-Benjamin-Amant Duchenne (de Boulogne)

Associated Names
The image shows an upper body portrait of a middle-aged man seated, captured from the chest upward. The man has a wrinkled face with pronounced lines and slightly sunken cheeks. His expression is tense, and his mouth is open. He has thin hair on top and longer strands at the sides. He wears a loose, light-colored, long-sleeved garment revealing part of his chest. Two hands, likely belonging to another person not fully visible, are extending from the right-hand side of the frame. These hands are manipulating wires attached to the man's face around his nose and mouth. The background is blurry and nondescript, with a neutral-toned surface focusing on the man and the hands interacting with him.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    albumen silver print

  • Credit Line

    Edward E. MacCrone Fund

  • Dimensions

    image: 22.7 × 16.7 cm (8 15/16 × 6 9/16 in.)
    mount: 43 × 27.9 cm (16 15/16 × 11 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2015.52.32

  • 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

Inscriptions

upper center of mount in black letterpress: Électro-Physiologie Photographique. / Fig. 52.; lower center-right of mount in black letterpress: Duchenne (de Boulogne), phot.; by unknown hand, lower right in graphite: [illegible]

Wikidata ID

Q64154675

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