Connections: Smile

Art historian Kathy Galitz on the meaning behind the smile.

March 22, 2011

3 min. watch

"And I've realized, as a tooth-smiler, I'm violating every rule of decorum, at least through the nineteenth century."

Art historian Kathy Galitz on the meaning behind the smile.

Art Mentioned

Mr. and Mrs. I. N. Phelps Stokes, John Singer Sargent American, Oil on canvas, American — Mr. and Mrs. I. N. Phelps Stokes
John Singer Sargent
1897

George Washington, Gilbert Stuart American, Oil on canvas, American — George Washington
Gilbert Stuart
begun 1795

Head of Buddha, Sandstone, Southern Cambodia — Head of Buddha
Southern Cambodia
7th century

Limestone statue of a bearded man with votive offerings, Limestone, Cypriot — Limestone statue of a bearded man with votive offerings
Cypriot
ca. 475–450 BCE

Marble statue of a kouros (youth), Marble, Naxian, Greek, Attic — Marble statue of a kouros (youth)
Greek, Attic
ca. 590–580 BCE

Smiling figure (Sonriente), South central Veracruz artist(s), Ceramic, slip, paint, Classic Veracruz — Smiling figure (Sonriente)
South central Veracruz artist(s)
600–1000 CE

The Love Letter, Jean Honoré Fragonard French, Oil on canvas — The Love Letter
Jean Honoré Fragonard
early 1770s

Young Man and Woman in an Inn, Frans Hals Dutch, Oil on canvas — Young Man and Woman in an Inn
Frans Hals
1623

Madame Jacques-Louis Leblanc (Françoise Poncelle, 1788–1839), Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres French, Oil on canvas — Madame Jacques-Louis Leblanc (Françoise Poncelle, 1788–1839)
Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres
1823

The Calmady Children (Emily, 1818–?1906, and Laura Anne, 1820–1894), Sir Thomas Lawrence British, Oil on canvas — The Calmady Children (Emily, 1818–?1906, and Laura Anne, 1820–1894)
Sir Thomas Lawrence
1823

Head of an Angel (?), Limestone, paint, French — Head of an Angel (?)
French
ca. 1250

Untitled [Seated Woman with Chevron Print Dress], Seydou Keïta Malian, Gelatin silver print — Untitled [Seated Woman with Chevron Print Dress]
Seydou Keïta
1956, printed 1997

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