What do portraits represent

They can also illustrate more than one person, in a group portrait. When making a portrait the artist aims to show the sitter's appearance as well as some elements of their character. Portraits often relate to a message, which the artist or person who commissioned the work wished to relay, such as the beauty of a daughter being wooed by a king, or the wealth and power of a monarch.

Free learning resources from arts, cultural and heritage organisations. Portraits are works of art that record the likenesses of humans or animals that are alive or have been alive.

The word portraiture is used to describe this category of art. The purpose of a portrait is to memorialize an image of someone for the future. It can be done with painting, photography, sculpture , or almost any other medium. Some portraiture is also created by artists purely for the sake of creating art, rather than working on commission.

The human body and face are fascinating subjects that many artists like to study in their personal work. One could speculate that the majority of portraits are created while the subject is still alive. It may be a single person or a group, such as a family. Portrait paintings go beyond simple documentation, it is the artist's interpretation of the subject.

Portraits can be realistic, abstract, or representational. Thanks to photography , we can easily capture records of what people look like throughout their life.

This was not possible prior to the invention of the medium in the mids, so people relied on painters to create their portrait. A painted portrait today is often seen as a luxury, even more than it was in previous centuries. They tend to be painted for special occasions, important people, or simply as artwork. Due to the cost involved, many people choose to go with photography instead of hiring a painter. A "posthumous portrait" is one that is rendered after the death of the subject.

It can be achieved by either copying another portrait or following instructions of the person who commissions the work. Single images of the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, or any saints are not considered portraits.

They are called "devotional images. Many artists also choose to do a "self-portrait. These are typically made from a reference photo or by looking in a mirror. Self-portraits can give you a good sense of how an artist views themselves and, quite often, it is rather introspective. Some artists will regularly create self-portraits, some just one in their lifetime, and others will not produce any.

While we tend to think of a portrait as a two-dimensional piece of artwork , the term can also apply to sculpture. When a sculptor focuses on just the head or the head and neck, it is called a portrait. Yes, we are surrounded by portraits — we see representations of people everywhere. However, in contemporary art, portraits are much more than pure representation. It has managed to adapt its genre to the demands of contemporary art. Portraiture is still alive, popular, and people love it.

New artists creating beautiful portraits are emerging just take a look at the works by Sascha Braunig , and they ensure the strong status of portraiture in contemporary art. The magic of portraiture is simply too powerful. Featured Image: Hendrik Kerstens — Bag detail.

All Images used for illustrative purposes only. April 18, Lorenzo Pereira. Tomoo Gokita — How to Marry a Millionaire, The Status of Portraiture in Contemporary Art One of the main characteristics of portraiture is that its function is the representation of an individual's appearance and personality.