An insight into the cultural, physiological, artistic and literary history of the smile.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations Foreword by XXXXXPreface Introduction: The Serious and the Smirk Chapter 1: Decorum Chapter 2: Lewdness Chapter 3: Desire Chapter 4: Mirth Chapter 5: Wisdom Chapter 6: Deceit Conclusion: Happiness? Appendix: The Spectator, no. 173 Notes BibliographyIndex

Reviews

Chronicling something as ephemeral as a smile can be a tricky thing. For art historian Trumble, the task at first seemed simple: How has the smile been depicted in art through the ages? The search was less than easy, however, and certain smiles-such as the open-mouth, full-toothed smile-were difficult to locate. In this genial exploration of the depicted smile, Trumble touches on such topics as the meaning of the smile in different cultures, the use of lipstick and tooth-dyeing, and the relationship between smiling and laughing. In an art historical mode, Trumble traces the changing meaning of a smile through ages, media, and cultures. Among the meanings explicated are lewdness, desire, mirth, wisdom, deceit, and even, perhaps, happiness. The primary focus of the book is Western art of the last millennium, including such examples as the Mona Lisa, Franz Hals's The Laughing Cavalier, the works of Ingres and Hogarth, the Cheshire Cat, and the "Smiley Face." However, there are excursions into the world of early Greek and Asian art. This work makes an interesting bookend to James Elkins's Pictures and Tears and is suitable for comprehensive public and special collections.-Martin R. Kalfatovic, Smithsonian Inst. Libs., Washington, DC Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

beautifully written.'New Scientistthanks to Trumble's curiosity, breadth of knowledge and naughty sense of humour, the overall effect is a delight.'Psychology TodayIt is the kind of book the reader can rummage around in for all kinds of lore 'The Baltimore SunTrumble merrily chronicles the smile's long journey.'US News and World Report