Content-analysis used for the study of a number of extracts from works of 20 Russian and Soviet writers has made it possible to reveal basic regularities in verbal description of human faces. Lexical-semantical analysis allows one to distinguish terms used for description of emotional states, and for physical description as such. Individual style and differences between the writers in the choice and number of elements of description have been established. Chances of using the method of content-analysis of pieces of literature in a wider context of studying general problems of social perception and communication are discussed in some detail.