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About PortraitsIn order to know about portraits, one needs to know about portraiture. Portraiture is a form of representational art which focuses on individual subjects. The main concentration of portraiture has been the visual representation of an individual usually distinguished by references to character, social position, wealth, or profession. In the broadest sense, portraiture can include representations of animals or even representations of dwellings. Portraits often aim at exact visual likeness. However, artists sometimes intentionally alter the individual's appearance by embellishing or refining their images to emphasize or minimize particular qualities. This is done in order to express certain moods or aspects of the individual. Portraits were severe and emphasized authority during some periods. This was so especially during the Medieval Period or places in which a strong hierarchical class system was established. During other periods artists strived for spontaneity and the sensation of life. Works done during the Impressionism are a great example of such. These works focused more on the day to day lives of the middle class. Portraiture can be done in any medium, including pen & ink, watercolor, oil, pastel, tempera, and hammered metal. Portraits can include only the head, or they can depict the shoulders and head, the upper torso, or an entire figure shown either seated or standing. Portraits can also show individuals self-consciously posing, embodied in a timeless posture, or captured in the midst of work or daily activity. Beyond physical likeness, however, portraits portray a range of qualities relating to an individual or group of individuals, and are not limited simply to recreating external appearances and situations. Backgrounds, objects located nearby, or mounts are all interpretative elements. Like any work of art, those portraits that are most appreciated exhibit strong composition, refined handling of the material, and appropriate or interesting use of color. Learn more
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