A false, incomplete expression of agreeable surprise, or admiration

Guillaume-Benjamin-Amant Duchenne (de Boulogne)

National Gallery of Art

The image shows the upper body of a man sitting upright, centered in the frame. His facial features include pronounced lines and wrinkles, a wide grin, and large eyes. The man has thinning hair that is combed back, and a prominent mustache. He is wearing a light-colored shirt that appears slightly disheveled, with the collar open. Several hands are seen around him; one is holding a metal apparatus around his head, which is connected to wires appearing to manipulate his facial expression. The background is a plain, smooth wall with a sepia-toned finish.