Portraiture generally seeks to capture the essential identity of each individual that is shown. Among other variations, portraits can be head studies, head and shoulders, head/shoulders/hands, or full body. With the focus on the individual(s), any objects or settings shown in the painting/drawing might be seen as symbolic of the individual(s), or a scene can provide context, showing the life of the individual(s).

A subject for portraiture might be chosen by the artist due to any number of emotions or situations – love, admiration, hatred, infatuation, friendship, family relationship, a commission from a patron, a random encounter, or an artist might create a project for which anyone is welcome to pose, in which the subjects are self-selected.

Portraiture generally reflects an interest in human character, but artists might also choose this genre as a vehicle for aesthetic expression, emphasizing abstract shapes, mark making, distortions, palette exploration, etc.

Featured: Self-Portrait by Vincent Van Gogh.