Laughter (from "Heads Representing the Various Passions of the Soul; as they are Expressed in the Human Countenance: Drawn by that Great Master Monsieur Le Brun")

Art Historical Context

This engraving captures the expressive power of laughter, one of a series of prints derived from Charles Le Brun’s influential 17th-century drawings on the human passions. Le Brun, chief painter to Louis XIV and director of the French Academy, sought to codify how emotions register on the face, believing such knowledge essential for history painters. Published in London in 1765 by Robert Sayer, the sheet translates Le Brun’s studies into a portable format for British artists and amateurs. Created through engraving with etching, the print preserves the delicate modeling of facial muscles while...