Body Shapes and Associated Perceived Traits in Pre-Contemporary European Portraits

This research investigates how body proportions are represented and perceived in historical portraits. This project describes the historical evolution of depicted body shapes during the period 1650-1950 in France and England. Focusing on the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in women and the chest-to-waist ratio (CWR) in men, the study also shows how clothing modulates perceived traits such as youth, nulliparity in women, and formidability in men.

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Publication Details

Journal
OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints)
Published
2026-09-14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.17605/osf.io/v53ag
Primary Topic
Fashion and Cultural Textiles
Type
preprint
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Body Shapes and Associated Perceived Traits in Pre-Contemporary European Portraits

Charlotte Touzeau, Nicolas Baumard, Coralie Chevallier, Jeanne Bovet
OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints)
Fashion and Cultural Textiles
preprint

Body Shapes and Associated Perceived Traits in Pre-Contemporary European Portraits

Charlotte Touzeau, Nicolas Baumard, Coralie Chevallier, Jeanne Bovet
preprint en

Abstract

This research investigates how body proportions are represented and perceived in historical portraits. This project describes the historical evolution of depicted body shapes during the period 1650-1950 in France and England. Focusing on the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in women and the chest-to-waist ratio (CWR) in men, the study also shows how clothing modulates perceived traits such as youth, nulliparity in women, and formidability in men.

OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints)
Gender equality
Fashion and Cultural Textiles
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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Body Shapes and Associated Perceived Traits in Pre-Contemporary European Portraits — Charlotte Touzeau, Nicolas Baumard, et al. · OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS