Portrait and Photography

Portraits initially define the subject but also what the photographers intention of what the image means and speaks out to its audience and if it creates a reaction. Portrait's originate from centuries ago and has been a symbolic use of showing identity and power ever since. They were extremely popular during the 16th century and famous painter of this period, Han's Holbein reflects how portraits were an important part of everyday life, which now presents history and development of this subject. The painting "The Ambassadors" painting in 1533 and by Holbein is one of his most famous pieces of work. It contains two men of power, which is known through the colours used and the way they are dressed. The painting has many objects that has created debate over the years because of the religious status of that period. Holbein also included an anamorphosis, a distorted skull on an angle at the bottom of the painting, this will of had a symbolic meaning when it was produced, which again has been much debated. Another famous portrait painting by Gainsborough "Mr and Mrs Andrews" presents a view of power because of the land and body language of the subjects and also the fact Gainsborough has included their land, that shows the couple are very self assured of themselves and their lives. As photography has developed it is clear to see that the painting's I have mentioned have had influence in a number of portrait photographs, keeping some of the themes seen in paintings centuries ago. American photographer Tina Barney reflects this is her work such as her portrait "New York Couple" that also presents wealth and shows the identity of the subjects. Not only has portrait paintings and photography presented wealth, power and identity, but how it shows us history. Photography was and is an amazing invention that has allowed to see how people lived from the late 1800's. Edward Curtis' work is a great example of this because he documented the American West and its native people who also lived there, which was interesting at the time because the people Curtis was photographing were also the ones that fighting and killing them, but is great because he has documented this people that we do not hear of anymore. Sociology also has an impact on portrait photography because of the issues that surround society. Photographers over the decades have captured an objective way of seeing which can can be confrontational in the issues that are going on or have been around the world, that presents the subject of what photographers should and should not photograph. Portrait's also create a passage of time and embraces the sitter in photographs that is clear depending on what clothes are worn, furniture surrounding the subject or when comparing two images together that maybe of the same people, but within that moment of the photograph it is gone, which Roland Barthes explained in his theory of photography a "mini death" because it is gone in seconds. When presenting their portrait work, photographers generally always have a context behind it, which they want its audience to see and deconstruct, that photographys such as William Eggleston and Cindy Sherman present, but depending on our beliefs it may come across differently. Eggleston creates a prejudice in his images because of the narrative that he creates, which makes the audience question the background of the image and what is going on. Sherman however uses everyday situations in her portraits of herself that makes the audience shocked and question todays society.
Portrait photography has filled the world with history and identity that makes us question the world and want to know more about the person in the photograph's that show us different situations and circumstances effect us and our lives.