Portraiture: An art form with a fascinating journey
Portraits are more than just a picture; they are a window into history and a captivating art form. From the Mona Lisa (1503) by Leonardo da Vinci to American Gothic (1930) by Grant Wood, portraits have captured their subjects’ likeness, personality and emotions for centuries. The earliest known portrait dates back to ancient Egypt, some 5000 years ago. Throughout history, portraits have been not only used for personal or historical record-keeping, they also served as a symbol of power and prestige. Whatever the purpose be, a portrait always has a fascinating tale waiting to be told. Let’s uncover the story behind the strokes and discover how portraits were born!
Ancient Egyptian portraits
The rich history of portraits dates back to ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, and Rome. The mummy portraits from the Egyptian city of Fayum painted on wooden boards (30 BC), are among the earliest known examples of portraits. These were discovered in the region in 1885 and are now housed at the British Museum in London.
Some other examples of portraits from early Egypt include Pharaoh Akhenaten (c.1364 BCE) and The Daughter of Akhenaten (c.1375 BCE). These portraits served not only as a means of preserving the memory of the deceased but also as a symbol of power and prestige. During this time, art was only restricted to royalty and selected few nobles.
Portraits from the Renaissance
The Renaissance marked a turning point in the art of portraiture, with artists beginning to adopt new techniques and styles. In the 1300s, Giotto, an Italian painter, showcased to the world his Scrovegni frescoes painting in the Arena Chapel of Italy. This painting marked the introduction of more realistic, three-dimensional figures in paintings.
The Renaissance also brought in new technical and narrative concepts in art, such as linear perspective, light and shade, 3-D modelling and humanism. These advancements in painting provided portrait artists with better resources and helped them noticeably improve their work. There’s definitely one painting from this era that you all must’ve heard about: Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa (1503)! Da Vinci used soft, blended brush strokes instead of the complex, realistic lines favoured by many of his peers.
During the 16th century, paintings based on historical, religious or mythological themes were considered the most valuable. These were followed by portraits of everyday scenes, landscapes and still life paintings. As a result, many portrait artists incorporated historical or mythological themes to help make their paintings stand out. This trend helped reinforce the idea that portraits were valuable pieces of art that deserve recognition.
The evolution of portraits from the 18th century to the modern times
During the 18th century industrial revolution, mass production of art supplies helped people from middle-class families take up painting. This paved the way for the Social Realism movement in France, marked by artists who depicted portraits of the working and middle classes. A few famous paintings from this period include The Desperate Man (1845; Gustave Courbet) and The Third-Class Carriage (1864; Honoré Daumier) among others.
In the late 19th century, artists such as Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin created portraits that challenged traditional norms. Artists such as Matisse and Pablo Picasso also began expressing human psychology through their portraits.
In the mid-1900s, portrait artistry was overshadowed by abstract and conceptual art. However, pop-art artists such as Andy Warhol brought portraits back into the limelight in the 1960s. Today, the art form continues to evolve, with various new-found approaches and styles.