Charles Bell's (1774-1842) contribution to our understanding of facial expression
File(s)
Author(s)
Hughes, Sean
Gardner-Thorpe, Christopher
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The human face reflects a person's character and emotions, both in health and disease. Charles Bell, published in 1806 Essays on the Anatomy of Expression in Painting in which he stressed the importance of understanding anatomy when studying art. He concluded that emotions were revealed in facial expression and that these expressions were only to be found in humans, not in lower animals. Charles Darwin in 1872 published The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, where he acknowledged Bell’s contribution to facial expression especially the role of the nervous system, but questioned Bell’s conclusion, that animals were incapable of showing emotions through facial expression. Darwin reasoned that human facial expressions reflected emotions, some from our primeval state, some from habit but most were universal and controlled by an involuntary nervous system, described by Bell, and now known as the parasympathetic system. This paper explores Bell’s contribution to the understanding of facial expression. We conclude that his understanding of neuroanatomy along with his artistic ability enhanced our comprehension of human facial expressions, although his theological interpretation of the reason for facial expressions and emotions needs to be seen more in the context of nineteenth century Natural Theology.
Date Issued
2022-11
Date Acceptance
2022-03-01
Citation
Journal of Medical Biography, 2022, 30 (4), pp.206-214
ISSN
1758-1087
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Start Page
206
End Page
214
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Medical Biography
Volume
30
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2022, Article Reuse Guidelines. This work is published with a CC BY-NC licence.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000769987000001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=a2bf6146997ec60c407a63945d4e92bb
Subjects
anatomy and art
Arts & Humanities
Charles Bell
Charles Darwin
emotions
facial expression
History & Philosophy of Science
History & Philosophy Of Science
nervous system
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 0967772020980233
Date Publish Online
2022-03-08