The History of Portraits

Discussion : What are the functions of a portrait?

According to Shearer West, they serve three functions. Can students guess these functions?

Debate what makes a portrait aesthetic, social or political.

Aesthetic: Pertaining to the beautiful, as opposed to the useful, scientific or emotional. An aesthetic response is an appreciation of beauty.

Social: Of or relating to human society and its modes of organisation

Political: Of, relating to or dealing with the structure or affairs of government, politics or the state..

http://www.learner.org/courses/globalart/theme/9/index.html

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