Portrait: meaning, definitions and examples

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portrait

[ ˈpɔːtrət ]

^{Context #1}

artistic representation

A painting, drawing, photograph, or sculpture that depicts a person, usually focusing on the face and expression.

Synonyms

image, likeness, picture

Examples of usage

He commissioned an artist to paint his portrait.
She hung a portrait of her grandmother on the wall.

^{Context #2}

description

A verbal or written description of a person, capturing their appearance, character, or personality.

Synonyms

depiction, representation, sketch

Examples of usage

His portrait of her was so vivid, it felt like she was in the room.
She gave a moving portrait of her struggles and triumphs.

^{Context #3}

photography

A photograph of a person, often posed and composed to highlight their features or personality.

Synonyms

photo, picture, shot

Examples of usage

He took a beautiful portrait of the bride and groom.
The photographer specializes in capturing candid portraits of children.

Translations

Translations of the word "portrait" in other languages:

🇵🇹 retrato

🇮🇳 चित्र

🇩🇪 Porträt

🇮🇩 potret

🇺🇦 портрет

🇵🇱 portret

🇯🇵 肖像画 (しょうぞうが)

🇫🇷 portrait

🇪🇸 retrato

🇹🇷 portre

🇰🇷 초상화 (chosanghwa)

🇸🇦 صورة

🇨🇿 portrét

🇸🇰 portrét

🇨🇳 肖像 (xiàoxiàng)

🇸🇮 portret

🇮🇸 andlitsmynd

🇰🇿 портрет

🇬🇪 პორტრეტი (portreti)

🇦🇿 portret

🇲🇽 retrato

Word origin

The word 'portrait' originated from the French word 'portrait', which in turn came from the Italian word 'ritratto', meaning 'retraced' or 'delineated'. The concept of portraiture has a long history, dating back to ancient times when rulers and nobility would commission artists to create their likenesses. Over the centuries, portraiture has evolved to encompass various mediums and styles, reflecting changes in artistic expression and cultural values.