QUICK CHECK. ARTS. 7th GRADE, UNIT 2, LESSON 10.

WHICH BEST EXPLAINS WHY PEOPLE IN PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE 1800S TENDED TO LOOK SO SERIOUS?
1. SMILING WAS NOT PART OF THE CULTURE.
2. THEY HAD TO SIT VERY STILL FOR A FEW MINUTES.
3. PHOTOGRAPHY WAS USED TO REPLACE THE ART OF PAINTING.
4. ONLY THE WEALTHY HAD ACCESS TO CAMERAS.

The correct answer is 2. They had to sit very still for a few minutes.

The best explanation for why people in photographs from the 1800s tended to look so serious is option 2: They had to sit very still for a few minutes.