Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Have you ever been to a family reunion, and someone breaks out the really old photos of the grandparents or great-grandparents? Or, like me, maybe you are just going through some old photo albums (yes, we still have actual photo albums) and come across the old black-and-white photos of your family ancestors. I was looking through an old photo album with one of my grandsons recently, and when we ran across some of the really old photos of my grandparents, he wanted to know why no one was smiling and looked so unhappy.
Well, there’s a reason why your ancestors’ portraits look like scenes from a Victorian horror film. Those stoic, often somber expressions in old photos have made many of us wonder: Were people back then just unhappy? Did they not know how to smile?
As it turns out, those serious faces in 19th-century photographs weren’t just a result of bleak personalities or mass melancholy. Instead, it was a mix of technical limitations, societal norms, and, let’s be honest, a dash of self-consciousness. Let’s dive into the reasons behind those famously grumpy portraits of yesteryear.
In the early days of photography, getting your picture taken was no “say cheese” moment. Early cameras required painfully long exposure times. And by long, we mean really long—initially up to 20 minutes for a single photo. Imagine holding a natural smile for that long. Now, picture how that “natural” smile would morph into an awkward grimace after about the first minute.
For this reason, a neutral or serious expression was simply easier to maintain and looked better in photographs. A single blink or twitch could ruin the whole shot, leaving you looking like you were haunted by something much worse than boredom. So, to keep things sharp and simple, people stuck to neutral expressions. Imagine having to sit still while someone asked you not to smile. Just the thought might be enough to keep anyone serious.
Before photography became a thing, portrait art set the standard for how “serious” a person looked in their image. Painted portraits were designed to capture a person’s status, dignity, and sometimes a little intimidation factor (especially if you were the Duke of Wherever). The wealthy and noble of the time didn’t want to be painted with big, beaming grins. Instead, they posed with expressions that said, “I own many properties, and also, I’m judging you.”
When photography arrived on the scene, people took cues from painted portraits, and photographers mirrored that serious, stoic tone. The result? Photos that made everyone look like they were pondering the mysteries of the universe, or at the very least, what they’d had for lunch. You didn’t want your great-great-grandkids to think you weren’t respectable, so a somber expression was the default.
Back then, big smiles were associated with certain less-than-favorable social qualities. In some cultures, an open-mouthed grin was seen as a bit… improper. If you wanted to be taken seriously (especially in your Sunday best), an open-mouth smile wasn’t the way to go. And even if you did want to flash those pearly whites, chances were they weren’t exactly pearly or white.
Dental care was a luxury, and for many, showing teeth wasn’t the most flattering option. Maintaining a closed-lip expression was a practical way to keep any, shall we say, “dental surprises” out of the frame. So, next time you’re wondering why no one in old photographs is grinning ear to ear, remember that it was as much about discretion as dignity.
By the late 19th century, Kodak came along with its revolutionary “Kodak Moment.” Kodak introduced affordable, portable cameras that didn’t require long exposure times, which allowed people to take candid photos without all the setup. With shorter exposure times, people could finally relax and, gasp, actually smile for the camera.
Photography was no longer a formal, once-in-a-lifetime event but something people could do on a whim. Snapshots captured friends, family, and even pets in everyday life, and smiling became an expected part of the experience. No longer did you need a solemn expression to look respectable—now, photos were all about capturing the moment, smiles included.
Why We Smile Today: The 20th-Century Shift
As photography became a social activity, smiling became more natural in photos. The “perfect smile” eventually turned into a cultural norm, promoted by advertisements, pop culture, and, of course, the invention of social media. Today, we’re so used to smiling for the camera that a serious expression can feel out of place, if not downright eerie. But next time you look at a sepia-toned portrait with a serious, no-nonsense expression, know that it was simply the look of the time.
In an era without selfies, filters, or the ability to delete and retake a photo endlessly, those somber expressions captured something more lasting and contemplative. Perhaps our ancestors understood that some things are worth a little gravity. Or maybe they were just as baffled by those early cameras as we are by some new tech today. Either way, they didn’t feel the need to say “cheese,” and that’s OK.
The Smile Revolution
Today, photography captures everything from monumental moments to the mundane, often with a smile. But back when portraits were a serious (and seriously lengthy) endeavor, a stoic expression was simply practical. As cameras improved and social norms shifted, the grim faces of the 1800s gave way to the carefree smiles of the 1900s and beyond.
So, the next time you spot a serious ancestor staring out from an old photo, give them a little credit. If they could see us now, endlessly retaking photos to find our “best side,” they might just break into a smile themselves. Or, more likely, they’d maintain that timeless expression—solid and unyielding, as if to say, “In my day, one shot was all we got.”
micky@hcnews.com
