Le Ris (from Caractères des passions, gravés sur les desseins de l'illustre Monsieur le Brun) 1695 - 1720

Editor: This is “Le Ris” by Sebastien Le Clerc, made sometime between 1695 and 1720. It’s an etching presenting three studies of a face, and well, it's titled "The Laugh," but to me it seems more like a grimace. The expression feels so… strained. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It’s interesting you pick up on that strain. These studies tap into a fascinating history of how emotions were codified in the arts, particularly during the Baroque period. Consider the image as an exercise in depicting 'risus' – not just any laugh, but a very specific, almost clinical rendering of mirth. Do you notice how each variation presents a different angle, almost like a physiognomic study? Editor: Yes, almost like a scientific illustration? Curator: Precisely. Think of how the burgeoning sciences were influencing art at the time. Artists were keen to dissect and understand the mechanics of human expression. What we read as a 'grimace' might then have been understood as one facet of a complex emotion, presented for analysis. Each angle shows a different element contributing to the comprehensive understanding of laughter. Editor: So, it’s not necessarily about capturing a genuine feeling, but more about cataloging the physical components of an expression? Curator: Exactly. It reflects the period’s interest in systematizing knowledge. But I wonder, does that lessen its impact or perhaps give it another layer of meaning? Is there an emotional truth in these artificial studies? Editor: That's something I hadn't considered, but seeing it that way, the somewhat forced nature of the expressions becomes more intriguing. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. It reminds us that art is not just about representation, but also about the ideas and cultural frameworks that shape what we see.