portraiture

noun

por·​trai·​ture ˈpȯr-trə-ˌchu̇r 

-chər, 

-ˌtyu̇r, 

-ˌtu̇r

1

: the making of portraits : portrayal

2

: portrait

Synonyms of portraiture

• portrait
• description
• portrayal
• depiction

Examples of portraiture in a Sentence

The museum is exhibiting portraiture from the late 19th century.

Recent Examples on the Web

Carter is also more than a photographer who has shot fashion spreads for Vogue, Valentino and Ralph Lauren, or whose portraiture has been featured on the covers of Essence and GQ. — Jason Parham, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

For 40 years, the duo has influenced the visual language of contemporary fashion creating images that explore beauty, identity and the human condition via editorial, advertising, portraiture and artistic work. — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026

Seliger is a longtime photographer for Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone, who has earned national awards for his portraiture. — CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Beowulf Sheehan Beowulf Sheehan is a photographer of portraiture and performance in the arts and humanities. — Literary Hub, 1 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English purtreiture, portratowre, portrature "representation by painting or drawing, the art of painting or drawing," borrowed from Anglo-French purtraiture (also continental Old French pourtraiture), from purtrait, past participle of purtraire "to represent, depict" + -ure -ure — more at portray

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1