Essay on Physiognomy (Essai sur la Physiognomie Destiné à Faire Connoître l'Homme & à le faire Aimer, par Jean Gaspard Lavater, Citoyen de Zurich et Ministre du St. Evangile) 1781 - 1803

Johann Caspar Lavater's *Essay on Physiognomy*, a book of illustrations and text published between 1781 and 1803, explores the idea of determining a person's character based on their facial features. This particular page from the book, currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, features a profile drawing of a person, highlighting the concept of physiognomy. The drawing is presented as a visual example for the accompanying text, which discusses the relationship between the length of the lower portion of the face and a person's perceived character. The text explains that if the lower part of the face is longer than the upper, the person is considered "villainous and beastly." Lavater's *Essay on Physiognomy* became popular in the late 18th century, but its reliance on pseudoscience has been largely discredited today.