Studies of Heads, after Charles Le Brun c. 18th century

Editor: This is Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki’s "Studies of Heads, after Charles Le Brun," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a fascinating sheet of drawings, and the expressions are so dramatic! What do you see in this piece? Curator: These heads echo Le Brun's theories on emotion, translated into visual shorthand. Notice how each brow, mouth, and eye shape embodies a distinct feeling. Consider how this system might reflect the Enlightenment's ambition to categorize and understand the human psyche. Editor: So, it's not just about art, but also about understanding emotions through imagery? Curator: Precisely. The image offers a window into the cultural memory of emotional expression. What do these enduring symbols tell us about ourselves? Editor: It's amazing how consistent some of these expressions still are. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. There are layers to unpack there, aren't there?