Examining of using portrait in painting from the Feyyumto the impressionism

Portraiture is an art form that allows for the expression of emotions and thoughts through the depiction of an individual's physical appearance or facial expressions. Portrait works produced in visual arts such as sculpture, painting, and photography aim to establish a direct relationship between the soul and the body, and between character and facial expressions. In this context, the eye plays a central role as both an organ of observation and the first point of contact with the viewer. The face, as a tool that reflects the inner self, enables the visibility of the individual's spiritual depth. Thus, gazes are often interpreted as the "soul of the soul" and emphasize the psychological layer that constitutes the essence of portrait art. The aim of a portrait is to reveal a snapshot of the soul. It is the artist's task to bring the mysterious world of the person they are portraying to light through lines and colors and to transform it into a problem-solving medium. Rather than relying on secret information or zodiac signs, which may seem magical, the techniques and patterns used in portraits, based on anatomical knowledge and observational skills, reflect the characteristic features of the model. In this context, the reasons why portraits are necessary, how they emerged, how they developed, and the meanings they have acquired over time in different cultures, periods, civilizations, and artists have been important topics of discussion. In this study, Fayyum portraits, which are the first portrait works dating back to the ancient Egyptian period, were researched, and portrait art in painting was examined and researched throughout the historical process, from medieval painting to the Impressionism art movement. In addition, painters and their portrait paintings were discussed throughout this process. Ultimately, the aim of this research is to examine the discipline related to the concept of portraiture and to make the inner world and characteristic features of a person visible through different techniques.