In 1862, French neurologist Guillaume Duchenne carried out an experiment. He stimulated people’s facial muscles with small amounts of electricity to test which facial muscles we use for certain facial expressions. Thanks to the experiment, he was able to map out which muscles we use for smiling, frowning, crying, and fixing our resting jerk face.
However, his experiment wasn’t without controversies. For the most part, it was about who he used as subjects for his experiment. But it’s also about how the photos looked: while some of them seem funny at first glance, there’s something unsettling the longer you look at them.
Duchenne’s photographs are currently displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but what do you think, Pandas: are these scientific, artistic, or straight-up creepy?
#1 Surprise
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#2 Pleasure
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#3 Astonishment
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#4 Terror
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#5 Fear
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#6 Pain
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#7 Natural Laughter
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#8 Sympathy
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#9 Dissatisfied
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#10 Unhappy
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#11 Affected Weeping
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#12 Grimace
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#13 Fear
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#14 Amazement
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#15 Fright
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#16 Inexpressive
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#17 Cruelty
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#18 Flirtatious
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#19 Very Unhappy
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#20 Joy
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#21 Severity And Attention
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#22 Ferocious Cruelty
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#23 Agression
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#24 Crying
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#25 Attention
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#26 Discontent
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#27 Tearful
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#28 Disgust
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#29 Profound Attention
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#30 Whimpering
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#31 Moody
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#32 Extreme Pain
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#33 False Laughter
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#34 Meditation
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#35 Moderate Cruelty
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#36 Natural Facial Expresssion
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#37 Memory Of Pain
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#38 Cheerful
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#39 Suffering
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#40 Stern
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#41 The Normal Facial Expression On The Human Face Being Induced By Electrical Currents
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#42 Pain
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#43 Scorn
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#44 Repose
Image source: Wellcome Collection
#45 Attentive
Image source: Wellcome Collection
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