For hundreds of years, art has been a reflection of our collective culture. From the ancient cave paintings of prehistory to the modern-day works of art that grace our galleries and museums, art has been used to document our stories and articulate our values. But one thing is surprisingly rare in art history: smiles.
One theory suggests that this is due to the fact that smiling was not considered a desirable expression in early European Renaissance portraiture. At this time, aristocrats were painted in a formal manner with stoic expressions that conveyed their social status and wealth. Smiling was seen as a sign of frivolity or even immaturity, so it was often avoided.
Another theory suggests that smiling was less popular because it wasn’t possible to capture an accurate representation with the tools available at the time. Paintings were often done in oil paint on canvas, which did not allow for subtle facial expressions. As a result, painters often opted for an expressionless face rather than risk an inaccurate representation.
But why does this lack of smiling still persist today? In part, it may be because many artists are still influenced by this long-standing tradition of stoic portraiture.
But it could also be related to our modern fixation on perfectionism and airbrushing—we don’t want to see any wrinkles or imperfections, so we’d rather have a perfect face without any hint of emotion.
Conclusion:
Smiles are surprisingly rare in art history for many reasons. From early Renaissance portraiture where smiling was considered inappropriate to modern day perfectionism and airbrushing trends, it’s clear that our cultural values have had an influence on how we depict ourselves in art. Ultimately, this lack of smiling reflects how deeply embedded these ideals are in our society—and how much work we have yet to do towards accepting all forms of expression.
10 Related Question Answers Found
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