Genre is a portrait in art. Portrait as a genre of fine arts

Portrait - a word of French origin (portrait), meaning "portray." The portrait genre is a kind of fine art dedicated to the transfer of the image of one person, as well as a group of two or three people on a canvas or paper sheet. Of particular importance in this case is the style chosen by the artist. The figure of a person's face in a portrait is one of the most difficult areas in painting. The master of the brush should convey the characteristic signs of appearance, emotional state, inner world posing. The dimensions of the portrait determine its appearance. The image can be pectoral, generational, waist or full-length. The pose assumes three foreshortening: the face (full face), turn "three quarters" in one or the other side and in the profile. The portrait as a genre of fine art, contains in itself boundless possibilities of realization of artistic plans. First, a sketch is made, then the drawing itself.

History of the genre portrait

The most ancient attempt to depict a person's face is 27 thousand years old. "The picture" was discovered in a cave, near the French city of Angouleme. The portrait is a chalked outline, remotely resembling the features of a human face. Ancient artist marked the main lines of the eyes, nose, mouth. Later (also in caves) in the Balkans and in Italy began to appear more clear and specific images, among which the faces drawn in profile prevailed. It is peculiar for a person to create, talented people can not live without leaving a trace behind them. It can be a pattern laid out of pebbles in the middle of the field, a carved ornament on the bark of a tree, someone's face painted with charcoal on a rock. There are as many possibilities as possible for creativity.

Stamp images

Once the portrait genre gravitated toward the embodiment in sculpture, because in ancient times there were no artists who thoroughly owned a brush and are able to convey the play of light and shadow. The image of the face in the clay was better, and therefore in those distant times it was precisely stucco portraits that dominated. The art of painting appeared much later, when humanity realized the need for cultural communication.

Burial places

The appearance of images close to the drawing also refers to a later period, and the first portraits were found in the ancient eastern territories. In the Egyptian state there was a deification of the deceased. When burial was created a kind of portrait, which was conditionally considered a twin of the deceased. There was a principle of mummification, and then of portraying. The history of the genre portrait contains many examples of cult images both in drawing and in sculpture. Drawings of the deceased persons became more and more like the original. And then the copy of the person who left the world for another was replaced with a mask. Egyptian deceased began to be buried in sarcophagi, on the lid of which the deceased was depicted in full growth with a beautiful stylized face. Such funerals were arranged exclusively for the nobility. Egyptian pharaohs, for example, were placed not only in the sarcophagus, but also in the tomb, which was a huge structure.

Variety of solutions

At the artist at a portrait writing there is a choice: to represent the person and clothes of the person according to the original or to show the creative approach, creating an exquisite creative picture. The main condition in this case is the similarity that plays the dominant role. The independent genre of painting - portrait art, is open to experiments of a wide range. The artist has the opportunity to improve his skills by applying the latest technical achievements.

And indeed, the technique of performance is crucial for achieving the optimal result. The most common way of portraiture by professional artists is painting oil on canvas. This style goes back many centuries. It was used by artists of antiquity. Their work has survived to the present day. Portrait as a genre of fine art exists from time immemorial, and today it is a popular means of artistic expression.

"Dry brush"

Recently, the technique of "dry brush" is becoming popular , when the image is created not by smears, but by trituration of a small amount of paint. The brush is almost dry, and the method itself allows you to get beautiful halftones. Since the most delicate genre of painting is a portrait, and the image of a face in paints requires just delicate shades, the "dry brush" technique is suitable for this purpose as well as possible.

Types

The genre of the portrait is divided into several types: ceremonial, chamber, intimate and plot. There is also a special type called self-portrait, when the artist depicts himself. As a rule, this is a purely individual drawing. In general, the genre of the portrait is a completely independent type of painting, subject to certain rules. These rules are never violated, although their scope can be extended under certain circumstances.

In addition to those already listed, there is another genre of portrait, which includes special artistic features, a specialized variety that requires a systematic approach. This is a costume portrait, when a modern man is dressed in the clothes of the past tense on the canvas. The range of subjects is not limited: from the skins, in which the primitive man was dressed, to the wedding attire of the Renaissance. In this portrait variety there are elements of theatricality. In the Russian Federation, especially in Moscow, the costume portrait has become widespread, but it did not suit the fashion, but rather as a tribute to art.

The genre of portrait in art

Painting paintings, written at different times, unites one obligatory condition - the pictures must be reliable. An important role in this is played by the portrait component, or in other words - the image of the characters' face. The success of the picture depends on how carefully the facial features are written out. Expression of eyes, smiles or, conversely, frowning brows, all nuances should be reflected on the canvas. The task is not simple, but the factor of reliability indicates the skill of the artist. That's why the portrait genre in art is so unambiguous and requires the master full of results. Experienced artists are best able to do pictures, in the plot of which there are people, their faces close-up and accentuated movement.

Literary portraits

Writers, as well as artists, quite often depict the person's face. Literary receptions for this are much greater, the rich Russian language allows you to use numerous artistic forms, phrases and word combinations. The goal, to which the writer aspires, is identical in meaning to the artist's intention, the writer describes the facial expression as a consequence of a person's moods, a reflection of his thoughts, emotions and experiences. The genre of the literary portrait is quite complicated. To describe it is necessary, avoiding superficial formulations. This requires the skill of a true creator. Among Russian writers, able to express in a few words the essence of the human form, in the first place is the great Maxim Gorky. His American follower, William Faulkner, as masterly mastered the art of verbal portrayal. The genre of the literary portrait is diverse, the description follows a certain style, it can be cheerful or sad, short or lengthy, it all depends on each individual work.

The photo

With the advent of daguerreotype, the possibilities of fine arts have expanded, and portraits have not become an exception. The photo-portrait was much cheaper than the oil painting, and the recognition was 100%. And although the artists caustically noticed that photography is "painting for the poor," the general public turned in the direction of a more accurate image on the plate with a silver coating. The genre of photography of the portrait quickly became fashionable, there was no release from those who wanted to capture themselves and their loved ones.

However, the new method, the daguerreotype, had its drawbacks. Photography, unlike the picturesque portrait, did not allow anything to be changed. The image froze once and for all, it was impossible to fix something. And if you consider that a person was photographed sitting or standing (in a strained posture), then he went out in the picture not in the best way. Therefore, there were many disappointments, claims and discontent. Nevertheless, portrait pictures took root, people learned to pose artistically, and everything fell into place.