How to analyse a portrait

Follow our step-by-step guide to reading portraits, aimed at key stages 3-5. Learn to analyse how artists use different portrait elements, techniques and media to communicate mood, feelings and ideas by looking closely, and asking questions: https://www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/how-to-analyse-a-portrait

Description
At first glance, a portrait can appear to simply be a picture of a person or people. But by looking closely, and asking analytical questions, portraits can tell us so much more.

Portraits can tell us about:

• the artist’s practice
• the artist’s intention – why they chose to make the portrait in a particular way and what they are trying to say about the sitter
• the sitter – their identity and personality, how they are feeling or what they are known for.

Follow our step-by-step guide to analysing portraits and see what more you can discover.

https://www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/how-to-analyse-a-portrait