Guillaume Duchenne de Boulogne
Fright

CultureFrench
Titles
  • Fright
  • from Mécanisme de la physionomie humaine ou Analyse électro-physiologique de l’expression des passions applicable à la pratique des arts plastiques (Mechanism of Human Physiognomy or Electro-Physiological Analysis of the Expression of Passions Applicable to the Practice of the Visuals Arts.)
Date1854–1856, printed 1862
MediumAlbumen silver print from glass negative
DimensionsImage: 8 3/4 × 6 1/4 in. (22.2 × 15.9 cm)
Sheet: 8 3/4 × 6 1/4 in. (22.2 × 15.9 cm)
Mount: 15 13/16 × 10 13/16 in. (40.2 × 27.5 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the Buddy Taub Foundation, Dennis A. Roach and Jill Roach, Directors
Object number2015.60
Current Location
The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building
Gallery 208
On view

Explore Further

Department
Photography
Object Type
Description

Among the most gripping photographs of the 19th century, plates from Duchenne de Boulogne’s Mechanism of Human Physiognomy occupy a unique place at the intersection of art, science, and sentiment. A pioneering neurologist and physiologist as well as an amateur aesthetician, Duchenne de Boulogne conducted a series of experiments aimed at eliciting expressions of the principal emotions through the electrical stimulation of facial muscles. His goal was to publish an updated version of earlier treatises on the “passions of the soul”—attention, aggression, pain, joy, lasciviousness, sadness, surprise—this time based in science and recorded accurately with photography for use by artists.


ProvenanceLikely Alphonse Bertillon, Paris, d. 1914; by descent to Pascal Vincent-Bertillon; purchased by MFAH, 2015.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
printed top center of mount: ÉLECTRO-PHYSIOLOGIE PHOTOGRAPHIQUE. / FIG. 60.

printed lower right below image: DUCHENNE (de Boulogne), phot.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

Discontent, bad humor; relaxed face
Guillaume Duchenne de Boulogne
1854–1856, printed 1862
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2015.55
Astonishment badly rendered by the subject: a ridiulous and inane expression.
Guillaume Duchenne de Boulogne
1854–1856, printed 1862
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2015.58
Voluntary lowering of the jaw with the skin of the lower part of the face; inexpressive movement.
Guillaume Duchenne de Boulogne
1854–1856, printed 1862
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2015.57
Whimpering; false laughter
Guillaume Duchenne de Boulogne
1854–1856, printed 1862
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2015.56
Feeble false laughter
Guillaume Duchenne de Boulogne
1854–1856, printed 1862
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2015.53
Weeping openly, with hot tears
Guillaume Duchenne de Boulogne
1854–1856, printed 1862
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2015.52
Affected weeping; face in repose
Guillaume Duchenne de Boulogne
1854–1856, printed 1862
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2015.54
Terror mixed with pain, torture
Guillaume Duchenne de Boulogne
1854–1856, printed 1862
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2015.63
Terror, semiprofile
Guillaume Duchenne de Boulogne
1854–1856, printed 1862
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2015.62
Terror
Guillaume Duchenne de Boulogne
1854–1856, printed 1862
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2015.61
[Lack of expression]
Guillaume Duchenne de Boulogne
1854–1856, printed 1862
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2015.59
Natural laughter
Guillaume Duchenne de Boulogne
1854–1856, printed 1862
Albumen silver print from glass negative
2015.47