What is a portrait, and how is it possible to tell the difference between portraits and other types of images or works of art?

Information

A ‘portrait’ can refer to many different formats. It can be a painting, a photograph, or a statue of a person. A portrait aims to convey something about the person that is being portrayed, either by creating an exact likeness of the person, or communicating something about their personality.

The person’s face is usually the main element in a portrait, and they are usually seated or standing in a certain way. The person who is portrayed is also usually looking straight at the artist, the sculptor or the photographer.

Task

State which of the following images are portraits, giving reasons for your choices.

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