portraiture
gb/pˈɔɹtɹˈeɪt͡ʃɚ/ us/pˈɔɹtɹˈeɪt͡ʃɚ/
C1
English
portrékészítés, portréművészet, alakábrázolás, jellemábrázolás
NOUN
C1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] specializes in portraiture
She studied portraiture at art school and later opened her own studio.
A művészeti iskolában portrékészítést tanult, később pedig saját műtermet nyitott.
The museum’s new exhibition explores portraiture in the age of social media.
A múzeum új kiállítása a portréművészetet vizsgálja a közösségi média korában.
He moved from street photography into portraiture after meeting local musicians.
Learner examples
I want to learn portraiture.
Meg akarok tanulni portrékat készíteni.
Portraiture is my favorite kind of photography.
A portréfotózás a kedvenc fotós műfajom.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use this when they mean a single portrait; portraiture is the activity or field.
Meaning
art of making portraits
Collocations
portraiture and landscape
|portraiture painting
|portraiture photography
|traditional portraiture
|contemporary portraiture
|formal portraiture
|commissioned portraiture
|court portraiture
|portraiture studio
|specialize in portraiture
Synonyms
portrait art (More general; not as established as a field term.)
|
portrait painting (Narrower; limited to painting rather than all media.)
Antonyms
landscape (Art focused on scenery rather than people.)
|
still life (Art focused on objects rather than people.)
Themes
art
|photography
|visual_arts
Definition
the art of making pictures of people’s faces
The art or practice of creating portraits of people, especially in painting, drawing, or photography.
NOUN
C2
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
[period/artist] portraiture
Her thesis compares Dutch portraiture with Spanish portraiture of the same century.
A szakdolgozata az ugyanabból a századból származó holland és spanyol portréművészetet hasonlítja össze.
The gallery has an outstanding collection of twentieth-century portraiture.
A galériában a 20. századi portréművészet kiemelkedő gyűjteménye látható.
His portraiture is known for dramatic lighting and direct eye contact.
Learner examples
This museum shows a lot of portraiture.
Ebben a múzeumban sok portréművészeti alkotás látható.
I like modern portraiture.
Szeretem a modern portréművészetet.
Common mistake:
Often confused with portraiture meaning one portrait; use portrait for a single work.
Meaning
portraits as a genre
Collocations
Victorian portraiture
|Renaissance portraiture
|royal portraiture
|modern portraiture
|portraiture of the period
|portraiture tradition
|portraiture conventions
|portraiture collection
Synonyms
portrait tradition (Emphasizes inherited style and conventions.)
|
portrait genre (More explicitly about classification in art.)
Antonyms
nonfigurative art (Art that does not depict recognizable people.)
Themes
art
|history
|visual_arts
Definition
portraits as a type of art
Portraits considered as a group, or the genre and conventions of portrait-making, especially in a particular period or by a particular artist.
NOUN
C2
LITERARY
3
Usage pattern:
portraiture of [someone]
The novel is admired for its vivid portraiture of provincial life and its characters.
A regényt a vidéki élet és szereplői eleven ábrázolásáért csodálják.
Her essay offers sensitive portraiture of her father in his later years.
Esszéje érzékeny képet ad apjáról élete késői szakaszában.
The biography relies on careful portraiture rather than dramatic plot.
Learner examples
The book has good portraiture of its characters.
A könyvben jó a szereplők ábrázolása.
Common mistake:
This sense is less common; in everyday English, people usually say portrait or description.
Meaning
written depiction of a person
Collocations
literary portraiture
|verbal portraiture
|subtle portraiture
|sharp portraiture
|psychological portraiture
|portraiture of a character
Synonyms
character sketch (More informal and often shorter; common in writing classes.)
|
depiction (Broader and not limited to people.)
Antonyms
caricature (An exaggerated, often comic portrayal rather than a nuanced one.)
Themes
literature
|communication
Definition
a detailed description of a person in words
A detailed description or depiction of a person’s appearance, character, or personality in writing or speech.
Grammar
Dictionary form
portraiture
IPA
GB/pˈɔɹtɹˈeɪt͡ʃɚ/
US/pˈɔɹtɹˈeɪt͡ʃɚ/
Syllables & stress
por - trait - ure (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (por)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: portraiture
- Plural: portraiture
Word family
Expressions
environmental portraiture
1/ɪnvˌaɪɹənmˈɛntəl pˈɔɹtɹˈeɪt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
portraits in real surroundings
portraits that include the person’s environment
Examples
- For the magazine feature, the photographer chose environmental portraiture in each subject’s workspace.
- Environmental portraiture can feel more personal because it includes details from everyday life.
- She prefers environmental portraiture over studio shots because it tells a clearer story.
Learner examples
- We took environmental portraiture at her bakery.
official portraiture
1/əfˈɪʃəl pˈɔɹtɹˈeɪt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
formal commissioned portraits
formal portraits of leaders for public display
Examples
- The museum mounted an exhibit of official portraiture of former presidents.
- Her assignment was to modernize the style of official portraiture without losing its dignity.
- Official portraiture tends to follow conventions about clothing, posture, and symbols of office.
Learner examples
- The hall shows official portraiture of past leaders.
self-portraiture
1/sˈɛlf pˈɔɹtɹˈeɪt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
making portraits of oneself
the art of making self-portraits
Examples
- Her self-portraiture explores aging through a series of unretouched photographs.
- The workshop includes drawing exercises focused on self-portraiture.
- Self-portraiture can be a way for artists to experiment without hiring a model.
Learner examples
- He practices self-portraiture in photography.
studio portraiture
1/stˈudioʊ pˈɔɹtɹˈeɪt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
portraits made in a studio
portraits taken in a photo studio
Examples
- The course covers lighting basics for studio portraiture.
- They booked studio portraiture for their engagement photos.
- Studio portraiture usually requires more setup time than outdoor portraits.
Learner examples
- We did studio portraiture for my family photo.