by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research and Visitor Engagement
April 29, 2025
Top photo: Portrait of Johanna Stoutenburgh Hone (1765-1838), Joseph Klar after Rembrandt Peale, late-19th century
For much of its history, portraiture has been largely devoid of one feature ubiquitous in selfies today: a smile. Indeed, rather than being a reflection of emotion, this was often a deliberate choice by artist and sitter. Modern analysis has offered various explanations for this habit which is so foreign to today’s viewers that range from poor dental hygiene to the discomfort of holding the expression for the long periods required for painting or early photography. Beyond these hypothesized reasons, however, cultural factors and perceptions played a significant role in keeping smiles turned down for centuries.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, portraiture has long been the realm of society’s well-to-do, and the elevated status of the sitter often influenced how he or she chose to be depicted. From as early as the 17th century, leading voices advised against the showing of one’s teeth both in everyday life or portraits, emphasizing that a closed lip suggested greater decorum. In this vein, the idea followed that a prominent smile was indicative of lower social status or even traits such as drunkenness or lewdness. A slight smirk or upturned corner of the mouth was admissible, and these subtle expressions allowed individuals to convey a range of emotions. This was particularly desirable at a time when one’s likeness would be captured no more than a handful of times over the course of one’s life. Even with the rise of photography in the 19th century as processes improved and exposure times shortened, sitters followed long-established customs, opting for an ambiguous upturned lip rather than an “uncouth” grin. In fact, into the mid-19th century, prominent figures, including Mark Twain, advised against smiling as a mark of foolishness.
By the turn of the century, greater accessibility to photography propelled a shift towards wider smiles. As individuals from all backgrounds were increasingly able to have their picture taken, the opportunity to depict oneself was no longer limited to a single portrait or photo. As a result, it became more acceptable for a broader range of facial expressions to be portrayed. Approaching the 1920s, inexpensive and easy-to-use cameras further removed the degree of formality previously associated with portraiture and early photography. Thus, smiling for the camera was no longer frowned upon.
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