Expressions of contempt, by Oscar Gustave Rejlander

Expressions of contempt

Oscar Gustave Rejlander (1813-1875)

Photographs illustrating Charles Darwin's The Expressions of the Emotion in Man and Animals, originally published 1872

Source: Plate 5, Ch. XI, following p. 254

Darwin introduces this part of the chapter by saying, "The partial closure of the eyelids ... or the turning away of the eyes or of the whole body, are likewise highly expressive of disdain" (254). [Commentary continues below.]

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Darwin continues, "These actions seem to declare that the despised person is not worth looking at, or is disagreeable to behold. The accompanying photograph (Plate V. fig. 1) by Mr. Rejlander, shows this form of disdain. It represents a young lady, who is supposed to be tearing up the photograph of a despised lover" (254-55). Later, Darwin refers to the other two photographs here:

As the sensation of disgust primarily arises in connection with the act of eating or tasting, it is natural that its expression should consist chiefly in movements round the mouth. But as disgust also causes annoyance, it is generally accompanied by a frown, and often by gestures as if to push away or to guard oneself against the offensive object. In the two photographs (figs. 2 and 3, on Plate V.) Mr. Rejlander has simulated this expression with some success. [257]

Rejlander often used himself as a model, and Juliet Hacking says that he posed for the majority of the illustrations that he supplied to Darwin. Both the "elderly men" here are clearly the photographer himself, the one on the right somewhat disguised by his hat and costume (see his similar attire in Rejlander Introduces Rejlander the Volunteer).

Bibliography

Darwin, Charles. The Expressions of the Emotion in Man and Animals. New York and London: Appleton, 1915. Internet Archive. Contributed by the University of Michigan, Dearborn Center Library. Web. 21 July 2019.

Hacking, Juliet. "Rejlander, Oscar Gustaf (1813–1875), photographer." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Online ed. Web. 21 July 2019.

Created 21 July 2019