Today, anyone with a smartphone can snap a portrait in seconds, why does portrait painting still matter? What can a painting capture that a photograph cannot? I think these are questions that often go through ones mind especially as one is putting in a lot of time and effort to learn the craft of painting. And I think it is important to wrestle with those questions as the process will help solidify a deeper love for painting.
Portrait paintings are more than just visual representations of a person—they are profound, intimate reflections of identity, and presence. Unlike photographs though, which often act as a quick visual record, painted portraits emerge slowly, thoughtfully, and through the interpretive lens of the artist. This is not a loss of accuracy, but rather a higher level of accuracy that reveals something beyond the mere likeness of a person. And not to mention, some of the most valuable works of art in the world are portraits.
Therefore a painted portrait isn’t meant to just merely be a likeness. Especially as a painting isn’t really about the object – but about how the spots of color and value work together to create a distinct harmony. These elements come together not only to depict a face, but to express something deeper: the essence of a person. The things that separate photography from painting—subjectivity, abstraction, imperfection—are precisely what make portrait paintings so enduring and powerful. All that said, it is helpful to see portrait painting through the lens of the past to understand how important they are to us today.
A Brief History: When the Portrait Became Radical
Portraiture wasn’t always common—or accessible. In early Renaissance Italy, portraits were typically commissioned by the wealthy elite, and most were painted in strict profile, echoing the classical restraint of Roman coins. This detached view offered little connection between subject and viewer.
That began to change in the 15th century. A pivotal moment came when artists like Sandro Botticelli began painting people directly facing the viewer—a pose previously reserved for depictions of Christ. To portray an individual in such a manner was nothing short of revolutionary for the time. This change signified a shift in how individuals were perceived: not just as anonymous members of society, but as unique persons worthy of recognition and remembrance.
Portraits became eternal witnesses—not only to a person’s appearance, but to their spirit.
Idealized Beauty and the Soul
In Renaissance thought, outward beauty was often seen as a reflection of inner virtue. Portraits were frequently idealized, smoothing flaws and emphasizing harmony to reflect moral character. Painters didn’t just aim for a physical likeness—they created visual metaphors for nobility, purity, or intellect. Even back then, physical likeness wasn’t the only goal.
These portraits weren’t dishonest. But they were expressing a set of cultural values, visual essays on what made a person “good” or “worthy.” However, not all artists followed this ideology.
The Turn Toward Realism
While idealized beauty dominated early portraiture, some Renaissance and Baroque artists began seeking realism instead—an approach that would deeply influence modern portraiture.
- Hans Holbein the Younger was known for his meticulous, lifelike depictions of European nobility. Every fold of fabric and every facial line was painted with clarity and care, emphasizing truth over flattery.
- Leonardo da Vinci, although trained in idealized forms, brought psychological complexity to his subjects, blending realism with mystery—as seen in the enduring power of the Mona Lisa.
- Caravaggio broke new ground with portraits filled with grit, emotion, and unfiltered humanity. His sitters looked like real people, not mythic heroes—complete with imperfections, shadows, and soul.
These artists helped redefine portraiture as not just a tool for celebration or flattery, but for deep observation.
Why Portrait Paintings Still Matter—Now More Than Ever
Today, photography is more accessible than ever. But that hasn’t made portrait painting obsolete—far from it. In fact, the qualities that separate painting from photography are exactly what keep the painted portrait vital.
A painted portrait:
- Is not a mere visual copy, but a translation of a person through the artist’s eye and hand.
- Uses brushstrokes, texture, and color to create a kind of visual poetry.
- Invites interpretation, not just recognition.
- Captures the essence of the subject
- Takes time—demanding care, presence, and attention from both artist and subject.
This process creates something that’s not just about how someone looks—but who they are.
At its best, a painted portrait is a spiritual experience. It becomes a dialogue across time—a way for viewers to meet the gaze of someone long gone or feel connected to someone they’ve never met.
Contemporary Portrait Painters Keeping the Tradition Alive
Today’s portrait artists continue to expand and challenge the genre, using classical techniques alongside contemporary themes to make powerful, relevant work.
Here are a few modern painters who are redefining portraiture today:
- Kehinde Wiley – Known for his vibrant, large-scale portraits of Black subjects in heroic poses, Wiley merges classical European aesthetics with modern identity and politics.
- Alicia Brown – A Jamaican artist whose portraits blend historical references with themes of personal and cultural identity, often highlighting the tension between beauty and realism.
- Lynette Yiadom-Boakye – Though her portraits are of fictional characters, her loose, expressive brushwork and rich use of color explore the inner lives of imagined figures, adding a layer of storytelling and mystery.
- Jenny Saville – Famed for her raw, large-scale depictions of the human body, Saville challenges ideals of beauty and perfection, offering a visceral experience of human presence.
These artists show that portraiture is not a relic of the past—it’s a living, breathing form of expression that continues to evolve.
Why you should explore portrait painting
Portrait painting is far more than a way to preserve appearance. It’s a timeless art form that asks us to look deeper—to see the individual not just as a body or a face, but as a soul.
In an era of fleeting digital images and curated profiles, the painted portrait reminds us of something slower, more deliberate, and more lasting. It invites us to stop, and see what is beyond the mere likeness of an individual.
Painting your own portraits will help you to see deeper and grow enormously. Portraits are challenging and therefore provide a lifelong set of challenges to learn, develop and also enjoy!
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12 thoughts on “Why Portrait Paintings Still Matter Today”
Artistic value is independent of the subject. It is related to the skill and the personal feeling the artist can convey with his/her work.
Yes, completely agree with you!
Really nice article.
Thank you very much!
Hi Elizabeth,
Very informative article on portrait painting.
Thanks!
Steve
You are so welcome – thank you for your kind words!
Hi Elizabeth
I have enjoyed this article about portrait painting. That’s where I started.
On long family car rides my brother would sketch one of us. He had a natural talent.
Thinking that there was only one artist born to a family, I never tried.
My husband and I have a long drive to our summer home and I decided to give it a try. Shortlyt therearfter i proceeded to sketch each of my six grandchildren well enough to hang them in our family room.
the process facinates me. I will often see the face of their mom or dad as I get closer to each childs likeness. I know then that I am on the right track.
As always, thank you for passing along such interesting information.
Thank you so much for sharing that! I love that you did drawings of your grandchildren and have them hung in your family room. How special for your grandchildren that you are drawing them! Yes, you are definitely on the right track! 🙂
I believe that portrait painting is the ultimate challenge, and is one that every artist should take on.
Anyone can paint a flower or a tree, as the detail can be an inch awry, but no-one knows.
A portrait is far more demanding but so rewarding when you achieve your likeness.
You are right on about that!
I agree with your idea that portraits are a, ‘spiritual experience.’ I always focus on capturing the essence of the sitter, as much as, if not more than, the physical replication of their face/body.
Historically, portraiture goes back much further than the early renaissance period. I’m sure you are aware of the ‘Fayum Mummy’ portraits. Although some of these portraits appear naive in depiction of a person, others suggest a contemporary essence of realism which goes beyond mere facial replication, (both in composition and colour). Despite being painted between the 1st and 3rd century BCE, there are some astonishingly good portraits in this collection.
Oh yes, definitely. Portraiture goes back quite a ways – its amazing to see the encaustic paintings – fayum portraits as you pointed out. As well as the roman fresco portrait paintings. I agree that there are some absolutely astounding portraits from that time period, would love to touch on that at some point in the future in an article.