Portraiture
Prior to the invention of the photograph, portraiture was reserved for royalty, the wealthy, or important members of society because it was expensive and required considerable time. Photography opened up possibilities for the average person to capture their likeness in a portrait. Portraits both painted and photographed (even some selfies) capture not only the likeness of the sitter, but may also reveal something of the sitter’s personality. Examine portraiture in both paintings and photographs from Chapter 11. Choose at least two images (include the artist’s name, title, and figure number) and compare the images for what they say about each of the subjects. Describe differences and similarities between photographic and painted portraits. Which are more effective and why? How did portraiture change during the 20th and 21st century? How does the ubiquitous selfie factor into our consideration of self-portraiture? Can a selfie be considered art?
