portrait etymology

Etymology:

  • French: portraiture
  • Latin: protractus ("drawn forward")

Meaning:

A portrait is a painting, drawing, photograph, or other artistic representation of a person, typically depicting their likeness, expression, and personality.

Origin:

The term "portrait" originated from the Latin word "protractus," which means "drawn forward." This referred to the concept of a "portraiture" or "drawn likeness" that captured the contours and features of a subject.

Historical Evolution:

  • Ancient Egypt: The earliest known portraits were found in ancient Egyptian tombs and dated back to around 3000 BCE. They were typically depicted in profile and displayed a stylized and idealized representation of the subject.
  • Classical Greece: Greek artists in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE began to develop more realistic and expressive portraits that captured the individual characteristics of their subjects.
  • Renaissance: During the Renaissance, portraits became increasingly popular and served as a way for individuals to commemorate themselves and their families. Artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael created iconic portraits that captured the essence and emotions of their subjects.
  • Modern Era: With the advent of photography in the 19th century, portraits became more accessible and widespread. However, traditional painted and drawn portraits remained popular as a means of artistic expression and capturing the human condition.
  • Contemporary Art: In contemporary art, portraits often explore diverse themes such as identity, representation, and social issues, and may incorporate experimental techniques and unconventional formats.

portrait relate terms

  • portray

    Etymology Late Latin portrahere from Latin prō forward trahere to draw

  • tract

    Etymology The word tract comes from the Latin tractus meaning a drawn line a stre

  • portraiture

    Etymology The word portraiture comes from the Old French portraiture which in turn

  • portrait

    Etymology French portraiture Latin protractus drawn forward Meaning A portrai

  • self portrait

    Etymology The word selfportrait is derived from two English words Self Denoting o

  • portrait

    Etymology French portraiture Latin protractus drawn forward Meaning A portrai

  • locket

    Etymology Middle English lokette loket Anglo Norman loket lokett lokette Latin loc

  • vignette

    Etymology The word vignette comes from the French word vigne meaning vine or vine

  • kit cat

    Etymology The term kit cat has two possible etymologies From the Kit Cat Club A gro

  • tester

    Etymology Tester derives from the Old French word teste meaning head or skull M

  • simulacrum

    Etymology Latin simulacrum meaning likeness image representation From simulare

  • example

  • sitting

    Etymology Old English sittigan Proto Germanic setjan Proto Indo European sed to

  • semblance

    Etymology Middle English semblaunce from Anglo Norman French semblance from Old Fren

  • picture

    Etymology The word picture comes from the Latin word pictura meaning painting or pi

  • keel

    Etymology The word keel comes from the Middle English word kele which is derived fr