Looking back into the past hundred years or more in the art of portraiture is to witness the evolution of artists’ intellect, their emotional response to the times they live in, and how the process of image-making remains on constant movement through the implementation of new techniques and media. Today, most of us think of portraits in terms of characterization; we want to look like our favorite celebrity, which is something accredited to advertising and pop culture. Along with their approach to creating portraits, artists have changed their interpretation of what’s accurate and what’s beautiful by dismantling traditional conventions such as nudity from erotism, and even replacing anatomic accuracy for symbols and objects to create a visual metaphor in response to social conflict.

As I browsed through The Mirror and the Mask: Portraiture in the Age of Picasso, by Alarcó and Warner, I reinforced the idea that being innovative has little to do with setting a new mark, but rather, it’s the result of being attentive to our times. Although Picasso was hugely influential, he too allowed himself to be influenced! Whether by classical art, primitive art, or surrealistic concepts. As he progressed as a painter, he became less concerned with the sitter’s appearance by avoiding definition through defragmentation and blend it with the composition’s environment.

It wasn't until the 20th century that we started reading deeper into portraits. Portraits serve a purpose, and they often have an association with social status, occupation, or allegorical context. So, experience has taught us to read more in-depth into portraits, including those from past centuries. We even make assumptions and develop stories based on historical research! With painting tools becoming more practical in the late 19th century, then the photographic camera in the 20th, we have become accustomed to viewing portraits in all forms thanks to digital media. These days, the majority of people know what a headshot entails. Not only actors need them, but anyone else with a presence on social media must have a portrait that represents them with trust, confidence, and expertise. Doctors, Lawyers, Bankers, Realtors, and even the average person seeking love on the web have their portrait available for the world to see.

David Hockney, Model With Unfinished Self Portrait

This book makes for a guide through modern art using Picasso as a point of reference. Reading through the book, I learned that an appropriate definition of a portrait refers to an imitation of what we see. Its reproduction requires skill and technique, but no critical faculty. A portrait does not need to represent the subject’s face. Also, an entire body can be represented and, more importantly, a state of mind. When it comes to the face, the forehead and eyes convey the idea of spirituality; the nose appeals to the concept of sensitivity (but for me, along with the jaw, I associated it with the character); and the mouth connects with sensuality. How about you, Do you care to read deep into someone's picture, or do you take things at face value?