--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is a portrait good for, unless it…" description: "\"What is a portrait good for, unless it shows just how the subject was seen by the painter? In the old days before photography came in a sitter had a pe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/aubrey-beardsley-36473_absolutes_what-is-a-portrait-good-for-unless-it-sh_1927998.jpg" --- # What is a portrait good for, unless it shows just how the… ![“What is a portrait good for, unless it shows just how the subject was seen by the painter? In the old days before photography came in a sitter had a perfect right to say to the artist: "Paint me just as I am." Now if he wishes absolute fidelity he can go to the photographer and get it.” quote by Aubrey Beardsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/aubrey-beardsley-36473_absolutes_what-is-a-portrait-good-for-unless-it-sh_1927998.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/aubrey-beardsley-36473_absolutes_what-is-a-portrait-good-for-unless-it-sh_1927998.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/aubrey-beardsley-36473_absolutes_what-is-a-portrait-good-for-unless-it-sh_1927998.jpg) > “What is a portrait good for, unless it shows just how the subject was seen by the painter? In the old days before photography came in a sitter had a perfect right to say to the artist: "Paint me just as I am." Now if he wishes absolute fidelity he can go to the photographer and get it.” [Aubrey Beardsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-beardsley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A portrait should reveal the painter’s perception, not just the sitter’s self‑image; true fidelity now lies with photography. **In simple terms:** Portraits show the artist’s view, not just the subject’s. Key Takeaway Consider the artist’s perspective. Themes art perception portraiture authenticity Mood reflective analytical Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - museum curation - photographic commissions - artist‑client negotiations - art education Key Concepts subjectivity representation visual truth Questions to Reflect On - How does the artist’s bias shape your view? - Can photography replace artistic interpretation? A Different Perspective Portraits can mislead if the artist’s bias dominates. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Fidelity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fidelity/) [Old days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-days/) [Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [When I paint a person, his enemies always find the portrait a good likeness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edvard-munch/when-i-paint-a-person-his-enemies-always-find-the-portrait-a-good/) [Edvard Munch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edvard-munch/) > [I m not Shakespeare 2 write abt U, I m not Shelley 2 Sing abt U, I m not Piccaso to Paint U, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/i-m-not-shakespeare-2-write-abt-u-i-m-not-shelley-2-sing-abt-u-i-m/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [In the end, it doesn't really matter what you paint. It's all just a routine to connect yourself finally with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-ofili/in-the-end-it-doesn-t-really-matter-what-you-paint-it-s-all-just-a/) [Chris Ofili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-ofili/) > [I wanted to learn how to paint rather than just doing black-and-white work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-sienkiewicz/i-wanted-to-learn-how-to-paint-rather-than-just-doing-black-and-white/) [Bill Sienkiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-sienkiewicz/) > [I used to be a nanny and the kids used to laugh at me when I'd say 'Shall we paint something?' They just wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasia-demetriou/i-used-to-be-a-nanny-and-the-kids-used-to-laugh-at-me-when-i-d-say/) [Natasia Demetriou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasia-demetriou/) > [“Will you teach me how to paint?” “Just paint.” “I’m not any good.” “Do it for therapy. You can go to art school later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-alire-s-enz/will-you-teach-me-how-to-paint-just-paint-i-m-not-any-good-do-it-for/) [Benjamin Alire Sáenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-alire-s-enz/) > [I never want to paint anything just to make a pretty picture. The only reason I do this is because it's an outlet, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-shawn-alexander/i-never-want-to-paint-anything-just-to-make-a-pretty-picture-the-only/) [Jason Shawn Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-shawn-alexander/) > [Try to forget what objects you have before you - a tree, a house, a field, or whatever. Merely think, 'Here is a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/try-to-forget-what-objects-you-have-before-you-a-tree-a-house-a-field/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [I am a little Jew of Vitebsk. All that I paint, all that I do, all that I am, is just the little Jew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-chagall/i-am-a-little-jew-of-vitebsk-all-that-i-paint-all-that-i-do-all-that/) [Marc Chagall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-chagall/) > [When you go out to paint, try to forget what objects you have before you - a tree, house, a field…Merely think, here is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/when-you-go-out-to-paint-try-to-forget-what-objects-you-have-before/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [Graffiti is like building a career. And there is a dialogue with the other artists out there mostly fellow writers because a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaws/graffiti-is-like-building-a-career-and-there-is-a-dialogue-with-the/) [KAWS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaws/) > [As to what I would like to be, it is difficult to say. An artist of some kind. If nothing else I shall always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-pollock/as-to-what-i-would-like-to-be-it-is-difficult-to-say-an-artist-of/) [Jackson Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-pollock/) > [I would say to any artist: Don't be repressed in your work, dare to experiment, consider any urge, if in a new direction all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-weston/i-would-say-to-any-artist-don-t-be-repressed-in-your-work-dare-to/) [Edward Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-weston/) > [I would never dare say that I'm an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/france-gall/i-would-never-dare-say-that-i-m-an-artist/) France Gall > [It took a bit of talking through administrative people, but only once did an attorney try and get in the way of the process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-shear/it-took-a-bit-of-talking-through-administrative-people-but-only-once/) [Jules Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-shear/) ## More by Aubrey Beardsley > [Things shape themselves before my eyes just as a I draw them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-beardsley/things-shape-themselves-before-my-eyes-just-as-a-i-draw-them/) [Aubrey Beardsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-beardsley/) > [When an Englishman has professed his belief in the supremacy of Shakespeare amongst all poets, he feels himself excused from the general study of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-beardsley/when-an-englishman-has-professed-his-belief-in-the-supremacy-of/) [Aubrey Beardsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-beardsley/) > [How few of our young English impressionists knew the difference between a palette and a picture! However, I believe that Walter Sickert did -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-beardsley/how-few-of-our-young-english-impressionists-knew-the-difference/) [Aubrey Beardsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-beardsley/) > [I have one aim—the grotesque. If I am not grotesque I am nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-beardsley/i-have-one-aim-the-grotesque-if-i-am-not-grotesque-i-am-nothing/) [Aubrey Beardsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-beardsley/) > [I have always done my sketches, as people would say, for the fun of it... I have worked to amuse myself, and if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-beardsley/i-have-always-done-my-sketches-as-people-would-say-for-the-fun-of-it/) [Aubrey Beardsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-beardsley/) > [No language is rude that can boast polite writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-beardsley/no-language-is-rude-that-can-boast-polite-writers/) [Aubrey Beardsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-beardsley/) > [If I am not grotesque, I am nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-beardsley/if-i-am-not-grotesque-i-am-nothing/) [Aubrey Beardsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-beardsley/) > [Advertisement is an absolute necessity of modern life, and if it can be made beautiful as well as obvious, so much the better for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-beardsley/advertisement-is-an-absolute-necessity-of-modern-life-and-if-it-can/) [Aubrey Beardsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-beardsley/) > [“People hate to see their vices depicted, but vice is terrible and it should be depicted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-beardsley/people-hate-to-see-their-vices-depicted-but-vice-is-terrible-and-it/) [Aubrey Beardsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-beardsley/) > [All humanity inspires me. Every passer-by is my unconscious sitter; and as strange as it may seem, I really draw folk as I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-beardsley/all-humanity-inspires-me-every-passer-by-is-my-unconscious-sitter-and/) [Aubrey Beardsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-beardsley/) > [In the present age, alas! our pens are ravished by unlettered authors and unmannered critics, that make a havoc rather than a building, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-beardsley/in-the-present-age-alas-our-pens-are-ravished-by-unlettered-authors/) [Aubrey Beardsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-beardsley/) > [It takes only one man to make an artist, but forty to make an Academician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-beardsley/it-takes-only-one-man-to-make-an-artist-but-forty-to-make-an/) [Aubrey Beardsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-beardsley/) [Explore all 13 Aubrey Beardsley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-beardsley/) ## More Absolutes quotes > [At the centre of the human heart is the longing for an absolute good, a longing which is always there and is never appeased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/at-the-centre-of-the-human-heart-is-the-longing-for-an-absolute-good/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. But there is perfect injustice, and we know it when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/there-is-no-perfect-justice-just-as-there-is-no-absolute-in-ethics/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [If you live in a material universe where acquiring things is very important to you, then family is an absolute deterrent to maintaining that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/if-you-live-in-a-material-universe-where-acquiring-things-is-very/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolute-figures-is-almost-25-times/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Conservative political opinion in America cleaves to the tradition of the judge as passive interpreter, believing that his absolute loyalty to authoritative law is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/conservative-political-opinion-in-america-cleaves-to-the-tradition-of/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [So many times we come to Jesus in worship and ask Him for things that He already IS and has already done... What a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-nockels/so-many-times-we-come-to-jesus-in-worship-and-ask-him-for-things-that/) Christy Nockels > [Those are decisions only the Lord will make. I believe the love of God is absolute. He said he gave his son for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/those-are-decisions-only-the-lord-will-make-i-believe-the-love-of-god/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“The Gods know what it is to be eternal, and they love to toy with mortals who use absolutes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/the-gods-know-what-it-is-to-be-eternal-and-they-love-to-toy-with/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [I was asked the other day if I would be interested in the Nobel Prize, but I think that for me it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/i-was-asked-the-other-day-if-i-would-be-interested-in-the-nobel-prize/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [The only "definitive truth" for Buddhism is the absolute negation of any one truth as the Definitive Truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-only-definitive-truth-for-buddhism-is-the-absolute-negation-of/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The nature of the Absolute is neither perceptible nor imperceptible; and with phenomena it is just the same. But to one who has discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huangbo-xiyun/the-nature-of-the-absolute-is-neither-perceptible-nor-imperceptible/) [Huangbo Xiyun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huangbo-xiyun/) > [Joining a company is an act that calls for absolute loyalty in big matters and little ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/joining-a-company-is-an-act-that-calls-for-absolute-loyalty-in-big/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [In fine, a life of good or evil, the hope of Heaven or the despair of Hell, Faustus stands as a reminder that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-fine-a-life-of-good-or-evil-the-hope-of-heaven-or-the-despair-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 2,016 Absolutes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is a portrait good for, unless it shows just how the subject was seen by the painter? 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