Vier portretten van een man met gezichtsuitdrukkingen van sluwheid, loeren, kwaadaardig peinzen en wantrouwen before 1886

This intriguing image presents four photographic portraits of a man, captured by Nicola Tonger. The composition is neatly structured: four square frames, each a window into a different expression. The limited tonal range—primarily sepia—emphasizes texture and form. Each portrait captures a distinct emotional state: 'Slyness', 'Sneering', 'Evil Brooding', and 'Distrust'. Through the arrangement of the man’s facial features, Tonger explores a spectrum of negative emotions. What’s compelling is how these expressions challenge fixed emotional categories. Instead, they seem to destabilize conventional notions of emotional legibility. Tonger invites us to consider whether these are genuine emotions or carefully constructed performances. The symmetry of the layout adds another layer, suggesting a detached, almost scientific approach to dissecting human affect. This work engages with the emerging field of psychology and challenges the viewer to interpret and reinterpret the complex interplay between appearance and inner state.