About

One would think that the obsession with having one’s portrait painted was just a foray into what today is referred to as a selfie, but historically speaking, portraits served to capture more than the essence of the subject, namely their power. Initially, portraits were regaled to the wealthy, such as royals and members of the clergy. Rarely, if ever , did they feature the everyday person. The portraits were often stylized and flattering—certain exceptions exist, of course, such as Francisco de Goya’s El Tio Paquete (1819-20) which immortalizes the expression of its subject, a blind musician …