The Museum Ludwig Photography Rooms is presenting a fascinating exhibition titled "Smile! How the Smile Came Into Photography," which examines the evolution of human facial expressions in photographs from the 19th century to present day. The comprehensive show features an extensive collection of both anonymous and artistic portrait photographs that tell the remarkable story of how the smile became a standard feature in photography.
The exhibition reveals that whether people smile in photographs, or whether they show their teeth, has always been heavily influenced by social norms and the photographic technology available at the time. In 1878, photographer Josef Janssen made a keen observation about the photography process of his era. He noted that "the awkward situation in which a person finds themselves at the moment of having their photo taken is in itself enough to prevent them from displaying their individual personality." Janssen described how subjects were required to remain "motionless and with a fixed gaze, their head leaning on that dreaded, detestable head rest" for extended periods while staring "at a certain point in space that generally offers the eye nothing of interest." He concluded that this uncomfortable process could result in "nothing but stiffness and lifelessness" in the final photographs.
The rarity of smiles in 19th-century studio photography also reflected the social conventions of the time regarding appropriate appearance in portraits. These norms were deeply rooted in established ideas about class, gender, and social context. During this period, emotions were considered private matters that had no place in formal portrait photography, leading to the serious, stoic expressions that characterized most photographs of the era.
The emergence of silent films in the early 20th century played a pivotal role in transforming how smiles appeared in portrait photography. Since silent movies relied heavily on facial expressions to convey emotions and tell stories, filmmakers began using tight close-up shots that filled the entire frame with expressive faces. This cinematic influence gradually shifted photography trends, with headshot portraits increasingly replacing the traditional full-body portraits that had dominated earlier decades.
The rise of advertising further accelerated the prevalence of smiles in photography. Advertisers discovered that the bright, beaming smiles of actors and models could effectively embody and sell the appeal of various products to consumers. This commercial application of smiling faces contributed to what the exhibition describes as the gradual upward turn of "the corners of the mouth" in photographic portraits.
Scientific research supports the exhibition's premise about the increasing prevalence of smiles in photography. A 2015 academic study that analyzed student portraits in American high school and college yearbooks found that smiling in photographs has consistently increased since the beginning of the 20th century. The research also confirmed that women tend to smile more frequently than men in photographs, a trend that has remained consistent over time.
While this trend toward increased facial expressiveness can be observed worldwide across various cultures, the exhibition notes that fashion photography presents an interesting exception to this rule. In the fashion industry, concepts of status and coolness are often conveyed through minimal smiling or serious expressions, creating a distinct aesthetic that contrasts with mainstream photography trends.
The exhibition draws on historical sociological observations to provide broader context for these photographic trends. As early as 1927, influential sociologist Siegfried Kracauer observed that "the world—and thus the people in it—had taken on a photographic face," suggesting that photography was already beginning to influence how people presented themselves in daily life.
The Museum Ludwig's presentation aims to demonstrate that Kracauer's observation remains relevant today and that the evolution of the smile in photography represents a significant cultural and social history worth examining. The exhibition is accompanied by a comprehensive publication that provides additional scholarly analysis and visual documentation of this photographic evolution.
"Smile! How the Smile Came Into Photography" will remain on display at the Museum Ludwig Photography Rooms until March 22, 2026. The museum is located at Heinrich-Böll-Platz in Cologne, Germany, and can be reached at 49-221-221-26165 or through their website at www.museum-ludwig.de.
