Somerset Maugham mastered the craft of sketching a face so vividly that it remained with the reader long after the page was turned. He used precise observation to unite anatomy, expression, and character in just a few sentences. His prose was never overly ornate or sentimental, but objective, clear, and deeply human.
Observation as the Foundation
Maugham often began with a neutral inventory. He described form and structure as if he were drawing them, without passing judgment. A narrow chin, a broad forehead, the fine line between nostril and corner of the mouth – each was a clue leading to the inner life of the subject. This approach helps to reveal sensual potential without falling into cliché.
Example:
She leaned in the shadow of the veranda, her chin narrow, lips soft and slightly parted as if she had just sighed. The skin of her cheeks was delicate, yet on the high bones there lingered a faint shimmer of sweat, the kind that comes after a long afternoon in the garden. Her eyes, slightly narrowed, studied me as if weighing whether I noticed the light behind them.
Here, observation and sensuality combine without any value judgment. The description allows the reader to feel her physical presence.
Sensuality Through Precise Details
A portrait does not become sensual by using adjectives like “sexy” or “seductive.” Sensuality emerges when the description can be felt physically. The stretch of skin, the damp gleam on the lower lip, the slight rebound of a blink – these details speak directly to the senses.
Example:
Her hair fell loosely over her temples, a few strands clinging to the fine skin beneath. When she laughed, her chin lifted and her neck extended until the small hollow above her collarbone came into view. The eye drifted lower, to the gentle swell where the upper curve of her breasts pressed against the fabric of her dress.
The sensual effect works because the narrator’s gaze moves naturally over her body. Anatomy is named clearly – forehead, neck, collarbone, breast curve – without moral coding.
Psychology Between the Lines
Maugham often hinted at how a face changed when touched by emotion. A fleeting tension at the corner of the mouth, an upward flick of the eyes that lingers a moment too long – these observations tell the truth words may conceal.
Example:
When he spoke her name, something shifted around her eyes. The pupils widened, and the skin beneath them tightened as if she were holding her breath. For a moment, she looked as if she might turn away – but she didn’t.
Here, the physical changes carry the emotion. They are far more direct than simply writing, “She was nervous.”
Applying This to Erotic Fiction
In erotic literature, such face descriptions can intensify a scene without depicting explicit acts. A glance, a breath, a flicker of expression – they can arouse more than a hurried leap into physical contact. Sensuality lies in the act of truly looking.
As a writer, you can follow three principles:
- Observe anatomically, not judgmentally.
- Use details that speak to the reader’s senses.
- Let feelings show through micro-changes in the face.
Writing Prompt:
Write a scene in which your protagonist stands in conversation on a summer evening with someone who secretly desires her. Describe only her face, neck, and the upper swell of her cleavage as the light slowly changes. Use precise, anatomical, and sensual details to convey both her physical presence and the tension between the characters – without ever using the word “beautiful.”
More on this topic:
W. Somerset Maugham and the art of describing people vividly