Portret

Portret is a representation of a person, typically focusing on the face and upper body, created to convey likeness, personality, or status. While a portrait aims to resemble the subject, it may also emphasize character, mood, or social position through pose, costume, and setting. The term is widely used in art history and across languages, including Polish and Dutch (portret).

Portraiture has a long history. In antiquity and the Middle Ages, portraits often served religious or commemorative purposes and tended to be idealized rather than strictly realistic. During the Renaissance, artists emphasized individual likeness and psychological presence, laying the groundwork for modern portraiture. In the Baroque and Enlightenment periods, portraits became more dynamic and expressive, often commissioned to legitimize lineage, wealth, or power. The invention of photography in the 19th century transformed the genre, offering new ways to capture likeness and moments in time, while painting continued to explore interpretation and symbolism.

Forms and media for portret are diverse. Traditional media include painting (oil, tempera), drawing, and sculpture (busts and reliefs). Miniature portraits on ivory were popular in certain periods. With modern times, photography and digital media expanded the range of portrait practice, including environmental or candid portraits and digital composites.

Function and interpretation vary widely. Portraits can document appearance, celebrate achievement, honor a person, or explore identity and memory. Self-portraits, created by artists themselves, are a longstanding tradition for examining how one is seen and how one wishes to be perceived.

Notable examples span centuries and styles, including Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Rembrandt’s portraits and self-portraits, Vincent van Gogh’s self-portraits, Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits, and many contemporary artists who work in paint, photography, and digital media.