In his famous 1890 novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde wrote, “Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter. The sitter is merely the accident, the occasion. It is not he who is revealed by the painter; it is rather the painter who, on the coloured canvas, reveals himself.”
I would argue with Mr. Wilde and counter that a good portrait illuminates qualities of both the artist and their subject. There is no room for ego in a good portrait artist. They have to listen, wait, observe and create a space in which the sitter feels safe enough to be seen. In its highest form, portraiture transcends mere likeness to reveal an artist’s technical and interpersonal skills; and the spirit of the sitter.
This issue is a meditation on portraiture—and the breadth of what it can be—that goes far beyond our 18th annual special section dedicated to the Art of the Portrait. We preview the Smithsonian’s Portrait of a Nation exhibition which honors prominent national figures; and a showcase of contemporary portraiture at the Springville Art Museum. You will hear from the Portrait Society of America, perhaps the most impassioned and active advocate of the genre, and see works by the winners of its International Portrait Competition, who represent the top portraitists working today.
Other content throughout the magazine further explores portraiture and its close cousin, figurative works. A group show at Principle Gallery titled Bodies of Work brings together some of the biggest names in contemporary realism for a show revolving around the human form and face; and, in another feature, pastel portraitist Ellen Eagle discusses the delicate dance between painter and sitter.
I came away from this issue with a much deeper understanding of and appreciation for portraiture—its significance, its power and the reasons its popularity persists. The words of artist Casey Childs stayed with me: “I think portraiture endures because it’s a visual experience of one soul capturing the likeness of another soul, something a photo can’t do. It’s that connection of how the artist interprets a living and breathing thing that makes it special…Portraiture can connect us in a way that no other type of art can.”
I hope you make a connection inside these pages. Maybe you discover the perfect artist to create that painting one you’ve been wanting to commission in our portrait artists directory. Maybe you come across a lovely piece of art, portrait or otherwise, that you need to make your own. Maybe the words of an artist, or one of our writers, move or inspire you. Whether it’s on a soul level or through a simple smile, all connections count.
Enjoy the August issue!
Sarah Gianelli
Managing Editor
sgianelli@americanartcollector.com
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