word for painting a picture without words

When looking at a portrait painting, ask yourself: Portrait paintings can reveal the sitter's place in society, their hobbies or occupation, or aspects of their personality or beliefs. The artist will carefully craft visual clues to tell the story of the person in the artwork. In this way a portrait painting or drawing can function as a biography - telling the story of that person's life. Such a portrait painting causes the viewer to wonder about the person depicted.

Sometimes the person in the portrait can become iconic, representing a wider group of people from a specific period in time, who share something in common.Ī strong portrait captivates viewers, draws them into the painting, and engages their attention. What the portrait reveals may not be completely obvious - sometimes it can be cleverly implied through a certain expression or pose, an included object, or the artist's use of color. A good portrait is not just a visual representation of a person it will also reveal something about the essence of the person. Portraits are effective and compelling when they tell us something about the person.

Word for painting a picture without words