In MMD 050722 Kristen Forlenzo asks about non-smiling fair organ figures.
It is my understanding that the "smile for the camera" smile is recent.
If you look at 19th-century photo albums, you will see none except
small children smiling.  At least that's how _my_ family's albums look.

Apparently a smile was regarded as a sign of insincerity.  Although one
might smile among friends, a frozen public smile might be taken
wrongly.  Look at the effort needed to convey humor on the Internet --
a joking statement gets a ":-)" inserted in order that it not be
misinterpreted as an insult!

I am reminded of the stand-up comic who shows up at a very rural Grange
Hall.  All evening he tells joke after joke, and is met by dismal
silence.  As he leaves and his heading out to his car, he hears one
old-time tell another, "Wa'n't he funny, wa'n't he funny!  It was all
I could do to keep from bustin' out laffin'!"

Peter Neilson