Observations appliquées au système de Lavater, N°5

Observations appliquées au système de Lavater, N°5

Description:
A fascinating lithograph on paper from the series "Observations Appliquées au Système de Lavater," dedicated to the physiognomic studies of Swiss theologian Johann Caspar Lavater (1741–1801).
Engraved by Michel Delaporte, the plate illustrates the parallels between human and animal physiognomies—in this case, the bear and the marten—according to the theory that linked somatic traits to an individual's moral and psychological qualities.

The figures are arranged in comparative sequences: on one side, the man "next to" the bear, symbolizing slowness and gluttony; on the other, the man next to the marten, emblem of cunning and restlessness. In the center, two crossed pens allude to observation and graphic analysis, tools of physiognomic thought.

Period: First half of the 19th century
Technique: Lithograph on paper
Signed: by Michel Delaporte (bottom center)
Dimensions: approx. 27 × 33 cm
Condition: Signs of use, creases, and light oxidation consistent with age.

A rare and evocative document of 19th-century visual culture, midway between science, art, and moral symbolism.