What a Face is

The face is an expression / The face is a relation. / The face is subjectivity. / The face is the other. / The face is art. / The face is absence.

Jean-Luc Nancy, a contemporary French philosopher, has written extensively on the concept of the face in his work on portraiture, particularly in his book "The Look of the Portrait" ("Le regard du portrait"). According to Nancy, the face is not merely a physical or anatomical feature; it is a site of expression, relation, and meaning.

The Face as Expression: For Nancy, the face is an expressive surface that communicates more than just physical traits. It conveys emotions, thoughts, and the inner life of a person. The face is where the invisible becomes visible.

The Face as Relation: Nancy emphasizes that the face is fundamentally relational. It is through faces that we encounter and recognize others. The face establishes a connection between individuals, making it a central element of social interaction and human relationships.

The Face and Subjectivity: The face is a manifestation of subjectivity. It reveals the individuality and uniqueness of a person. Each face is distinct and carries the trace of the person's life and experiences.

The Face and the Other: Drawing from Emmanuel Levinas, Nancy explores the ethical dimension of the face. The face of the other calls us to recognize their humanity and respond ethically. It is an encounter with alterity, the presence of another subject who is irreducible to mere objecthood.

The Face in Art and Portraiture: In the context of portraiture, Nancy suggests that the artist captures more than the physical likeness of the subject. A portrait aims to reveal the essence of the person, their presence, and their being. The act of portraying a face is an attempt to grasp the singularity and depth of the subject.

The Face and Absence: Nancy also touches on the theme of absence in relation to the face. A portrait can evoke the presence of a person who is not physically there, capturing their essence and making it present to the viewer.