Figure 4: The face in repose of a young man 1854 - 1856

Guillaume Duchenne's "Figure 4: The face in repose of a young man" is a striking photographic portrait from 1854-1856, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. Duchenne, a neurologist, used photography to study the physiology of facial expressions, applying electrical stimulation to his subjects' muscles. This particular image, with its focus on the neutral face, embodies the scientific approach of Duchenne's work, highlighting the expressive potential of the human visage in its most basic state.