What is a portrait?

A portrait is defined as a picture or likeness of a person, typically focusing on the subject’s face and expression. This visual representation aims to capture not just the physical appearance but also the personality and essence of the individual being portrayed. Portraits can take various forms, including paintings, photographs, and drawings, and have been an integral part of art history, often reflecting cultural and social contexts. The emphasis in the definition on the likeness of a person distinguishes it clearly from other forms of representation, such as landscapes or written descriptions. Understanding the concept of a portrait is essential when studying literature that involves character representation and analysis, where the nuances of visual description play a significant role in developing a reader's understanding of characters' emotions and contexts.