ticketsMember | Make a donation

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.

More from The Met

Dusty floor with intricate geometric patterns partially covered by a thin layer of dust. Soft footprints disrupt the dust, adding texture and intrigue.
Nonconformist Spirits
How did Man Ray and Marcel Duchamp engender mutual growth in their radical art?
Dawn Ades
October 10
A woman with closed eyes rests her head on a surface, holding an ornate African mask. The sepia-toned image conveys a serene and introspective mood.
More Than a Muse
Discover Kiki de Montparnasse’s abiding influence on Man Ray’s photographic practice.
Mark Braude
October 10
An older, smiling woman gestures in front of herself. In the background is a blurred Arms and Armor gallery.
Video
Meet Me at The Met: Laurie Anderson
October 2
More in:ConnectionsInspiration

Art Mentioned

A slider containing 12 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
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
Restituted
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