Portrait could be a various topic, when this word comes out, my first idea was painting a face. We often see some 19th century artist would paint their face in different way. However, portrait not just about paint an realistic people. A portrait could reflect society, personal, history and entertainment.
Andy Warhol artwork react to social criticism, theme could be various. Such as Death and Disaster. Sometime also using famous pop star or iconic people for inspiration. For example Marilyn Diptych and Elvis. When we look back his work, we could know from that moment what is famous. Portrait could record people and things.
Other artist like Gerhard Richter, he like to using some shocking image or popular news for portrait. He used photography for portrait. Sometimes a piece of drawing or painting may not show enough details to the audience. Take shocking image photography may better show.
Although not all of the artist like to react society, some of the artist like to did some small painting. Elizabeth Peyton get inspired from pop singer and culture. For example Elvis Presley and Jarvis Cocker. Those were painted high contrast colour. Saturated colour for the clothes, warm environment and coolest skin colour creates strong atmosphere.
Chun Wang 