You’ve seen it. It’s on every college dorm wall, every quirky coffee mug, and definitely in every "inspirational" Facebook group your aunt belongs to. I’m talking about that one picture of Albert Einstein where he’s sticking his tongue out at the world. It’s basically the universal logo for "genius with a sense of humor."
But honestly? Most people have no clue what was actually happening when that shutter clicked. It wasn't a staged photo op. It wasn't him being "wacky" for a magazine cover. It was actually a moment of pure, exhausted frustration.
The Night Everything Changed for Arthur Sasse
It was March 14, 1951. Einstein had just finished celebrating his 72nd birthday at the Princeton Club. Imagine being 72, having literally rewritten the laws of the universe, and just wanting to go home and sleep. Instead, he was being swarmed.
Photographers were everywhere. They were yelling, flashing bulbs in his face, and begging for "one more smile, Professor!" He was already in the back seat of a car, sandwiched between Dr. Frank Aydelotte and Aydelotte's wife. He just wanted the door closed.
Enter Arthur Sasse.
Sasse was a photographer for United Press International (UPI). He was the only one persistent enough—or maybe just lucky enough—to be standing in the right spot when Einstein finally snapped. Instead of giving the press the dignified, scholarly smile they wanted, Einstein stuck his tongue out.
It was a split second. A "get lost" gesture wrapped in a bit of playfulness.
Most of the other photographers missed it. They were looking for the "serious scientist" shot. Sasse, however, caught the frame that would define Einstein’s public persona for the next century.
Why the Editors Almost Killed the Shot
Believe it or not, UPI editors didn't want to run the photo. They thought it was disrespectful. They worried it would ruin the reputation of the world's greatest living intellectual. They actually sat on it, debating whether it was "appropriate."
Then something weird happened. Einstein saw the photo.
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He didn't hate it. He absolutely loved it. He loved it so much that he contacted UPI and ordered nine cropped prints for his own personal use. He started sending them out as greeting cards to his friends.
Think about that for a second. The man who gave us $E = mc^2$ was basically the first person to turn himself into a meme.
The Picture of Albert Einstein That Sold for $125,000
While you can buy a poster of the "tongue" photo for ten bucks at a mall, the original prints are worth a fortune. In 2017, one of the original nine prints Einstein ordered—the one he actually signed for journalist Howard K. Smith—sold at auction for roughly $125,000.
What makes that specific print so valuable isn't just the signature. It’s what Einstein wrote on it. He penned a note in German that basically said the gesture was aimed at all of humanity. He wrote that a "civilian" could afford to do what no diplomat would dare.
It was a middle finger to the rigid social norms of the 1950s.
Beyond the Tongue: The 1921 Nobel Portrait
If the tongue photo is the "casual" Einstein, the 1921 portrait is the "professional" one. Taken around the time he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, this image shows a much younger man.
The hair is still wild—that never changed—but the eyes are different. In the early portraits, you see the intensity of a man who was still fighting to get the scientific community to accept General Relativity.
Wait. Actually, a lot of people think he won the Nobel for Relativity. He didn't.
He won it for his work on the photoelectric effect. The famous 1921 photos by photographers like Ferdinand Schmutzer capture him during this transition from "rebellious patent clerk" to "global icon."
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The Science of the "Look"
Why does every picture of Albert Einstein feel so magnetic?
Photographers like Roman Vishniac, who photographed Einstein at Princeton in 1941, noted that he was a difficult subject because he didn't care about the camera. He wasn't "posing." He was usually thinking about something else entirely.
Vishniac once said that he had to wait for hours just to get a shot where Einstein wasn't completely lost in thought. He wanted to capture the "human" side of the genius, but Einstein’s brain was usually a few light-years away.
The Socks (Or Lack Thereof)
If you look closely at full-body photos of Einstein from his later years at Princeton, you’ll notice a recurring theme.
He isn't wearing socks.
He famously hated them. He thought they were a waste of time and that they eventually got holes in them anyway, so why bother? You’ll see him in leather sandals or even fuzzy slippers in some of the more candid shots taken by his neighbors.
It wasn't a fashion statement. It was pure efficiency.
How to Tell a Real Vintage Photo from a Reprints
If you’re a collector or just a fan looking for an authentic piece of history, you’ve gotta be careful. The market is flooded with "vintage" looking prints that were actually made in the 1990s.
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- Check the Paper: Real 1950s press photos were usually printed on "fiber-based" paper. It has a specific texture and weight. Modern prints use resin-coated (RC) paper which feels more like plastic.
- Look for the Stamps: Authentic UPI or AP photos will have "wire service" stamps on the back. These often include the date and the typed "slug" (the caption describing the photo).
- The "Silvering": Old black-and-white photos often develop a metallic sheen in the dark areas over time. This is called silver mirroring. If a "70-year-old" photo looks perfectly matte and flat, it might be a modern reproduction.
The Public Domain Reality of 2026
Here is something most people don't realize: as of January 1, 2026, a massive chunk of Einstein's personal writings and many images have entered the public domain in various jurisdictions.
Specifically, in Europe and many other regions, copyright expires 70 years after the creator's death. Since Einstein passed away in 1955, 2026 marks a major shift.
However, don't go printing Einstein's face on a line of sneakers just yet.
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem still holds the "Right of Publicity" and various trademarks related to his name and likeness. While the copyright on a specific old photograph might have expired, the commercial use of his image is still very much a legal minefield.
They are notoriously protective. You can't just use a picture of Albert Einstein to sell vacuum cleaners without hearing from a lawyer.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into the visual history of the world's most famous physicist, don't just stick to Google Images.
- Visit the Digital Archives: The Albert Einstein Archives at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has a massive, searchable database of photos, many of which are candid and never made it to posters.
- Check Local University Collections: Princeton University’s Manuscript Division holds some of the most intimate, "non-celebrity" photos of Einstein during his time in New Jersey.
- Verify the Photographer: If you're buying a print, look for names like Arthur Sasse, Roman Vishniac, or Philippe Halsman. These are the photographers who had actual access to him.
The "tongue" photo remains the gold standard because it broke the mold. It showed that brilliance doesn't have to be boring. It proved that you can be the smartest person in the room and still think the room is a bit ridiculous.
Next time you see that photo, remember: it wasn't a "funny face." It was a man who had done enough for the world and just wanted to go home and take his shoes off.
To truly appreciate the history, start by looking for the uncropped version of the Sasse photo. Seeing Einstein sitting in that car between the Aydelottes gives the image a completely different, much more human context than the isolated "headshot" version we usually see.