Poses of Pain: Portrait Heads by Messerschmidt
Franz Xaver Messerschmidt (1736-1783) left behind 55 character heads; 17 in alabaster, 36 in metal (usually a tin-copper alloy), one in wood and one in limestone. He never named them himself and just referred to them as 'heads'. The name they are known by now and the indication of the moods and characters they portray originated in an anonymous publication that appeared some ten years after his death.
Messerschmidt set out to illustrate a range of emotional responses to pain as a scientific system which he believed would help others in distress. He also intended for the poses to ward off the evil spirits which had haunted him since he recovered from an illness in 1774. To visualize his physiological response, he pinched himself near the rib area to create pain. He had been suffering a digestive disorder, now believed to be Crohn's disease, and this must have helped him cope with his own suffering.
The above statue head illustrates A Strong Man (PN# ME02, $69). One imagines that this man is picking up a heavy item requiring acute physical intensity. His clenched mouth and tightened neck muscles demonstrate Messerschmidt's profound talent at capturing a human gesture. This statue reproduction is part of the Parastone Mouseion 3D Collection of collectible museum reproductions.
In another example named The Yawning Man (PN# ME01, $69). Messerschmidt again selects to illustrate the moment in the gesture with the most physical force. The man's mouth is hyper extended, with even his tongue tightened into a rigid shape as his brows furrow and eyes squint tightly.
From the web, Theodor Schmidt has researched 49 heads which are numbered and in his opinion form a set. He describes strong similarities in certain pairings which "follow a bizarre numerological pattern" related to a mathematical calculation. On his website, he posted small pictures of the pairings.
From Wikipedia, Messerschmidt discussed the heads in 1781 with German author Friedrich Nicolai and his interest in necromancy and the arcane. He had been a disciple of Hermes Trismegistus abiding by his teachings on the pursuit of "universal balance". Messerschmidt claimed that his heads had angered "the Spirit of Proportion" who forced him to endure humiliating tortures at night.
These heads evoke a strong response from the viewer. Whether we are supposed to feel Messerschmidt's physical pain, his superstitious pain, or his emotional pain is unclear. However, they are a lasting memory of human pain which as a universal condition has endured for centuries.
Research Links: Brief article by Theodor Schmidt, Wikipedia's Article
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