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

What’s interesting about this bit of dialogue — and about this purposefully meta portraiture as a whole — is not who’s saying the line, but who’s playing who’s saying the line. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025

Virtually unknown today, Wautier painted across genres, including portraiture, still life, and even historical scenes, which usually required the study of live models, a practice women were banned from. —Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 11 Nov. 2025

Her practice spans portraiture, fashion, and intimate visual storytelling. —Photovogue, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2025

Skovgaard’s inspirations span from baroque aristocratic portraiture to ’80s pop culture, and are drenched in personal memories. —Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025

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