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Figure 45: Contraction électrique forte des triangulaires des lèvres et des sourciliers: douleur et déspoir
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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.
| Artist / Maker | Guillaume-Benjamin-Amand Duchenne |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1856, printed 1862 |
| Culture / Origin | France, 19th century |
| Medium | Albumen print from glass plate negative |
| Dimensions | 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.) |
| Department | Photography |
| Type | Photograph |
About the Artist
Guillaume-Benjamin-Amand Duchenne (de Boulogne) (French, 1806–1875) Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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Figure 32: Natural laughter by the voluntary contraction of the two large zygomatics and the lower palpebral orbicularis
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Figure 54: Abaissement volontaire de la mâchoire inférieure: mouvement inexpressif
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Figure 51: À droite, contraction partielle de l'élévateur commun de l'aile du nez et de la lèvre supérieure: mécontentement, mauvaise humeur; à gauche, repos