Johann Caspar Lavater

Johann Caspar Lavater (1741–1801) was a Swiss physician and philosopher known for his work in physiognomy, the study of interpreting a person's character from their facial features. He believed that physical appearance could reveal inner qualities and wrote extensively on this topic, publishing several volumes that included illustrations. Lavater's ideas were influential in his time and sparked interest in the connection between appearance and personality. Although later criticized and largely discredited, his work laid early groundwork for discussions on psychology and human behavior, as well as the emerging fields of anthropology and the study of human expressions.