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Connections: Smile

Art historian Kathy Galitz on the meaning behind the smile.
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.

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Art Mentioned

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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