portraiture

noun

por·​trai·​ture ˈpȯr-trə-ˌchu̇r 

-chər,

-ˌtyu̇r,

-ˌtu̇r

1

: the making of portraits : portrayal

2

: portrait

Synonyms

• 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

Linda McCartney was a photographer, musician and animal rights activist who rose to prominence in the 1960s with her portraiture of The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and The Doors. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025

Some of the figures will be instantly recognizable—Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson—and some of the depictions are based on historical portraiture. —Peter Mendelsund, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025

This was the perfect moment to reignite Gap’s long-standing history of portraiture — those iconic images that have always captured not just style, but identity. —Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2025

Working fluidly between portraiture, fine art, fashion, and documentary, I’ve always been drawn to using image-making to amplify and humanise deeply personal stories. —Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 24 Sep. 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