Philosophy
The Aesthetics of Portraiture and the Philosophy of Representation
Quick fact
A portrait need not be a faithful likeness to be considered a great portrait—often, artists exaggerate or distort features to reveal a deeper psychological truth about the sitter.
Why this is interesting
We all know a portrait captures a face, but could it also capture a soul? A painted smile has stopped emperors and strangers alike. What is it about a person's image that holds such power?