--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every image is in some way a “portrait,”…" description: "\"Every image is in some way a “portrait,” not in the way that it would reproduce the traits of a person, but in that it pulls and draws (this is the sem..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c6/sally-mann-15174_draws_every-image-is-in-some-way-a-portrait-no_2981465.png" --- # Every image is in some way a “portrait,” not in the way… ![“Every image is in some way a “portrait,” not in the way that it would reproduce the traits of a person, but in that it pulls and draws (this is the semantic and etymological sense of the word), in that it extracts something, an intimacy, a force.” quote by Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c6/sally-mann-15174_draws_every-image-is-in-some-way-a-portrait-no_2981465.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c6/sally-mann-15174_draws_every-image-is-in-some-way-a-portrait-no_2981465.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c6/sally-mann-15174_draws_every-image-is-in-some-way-a-portrait-no_2981465.png) > “Every image is in some way a “portrait,” not in the way that it would reproduce the traits of a person, but in that it pulls and draws (this is the semantic and etymological sense of the word), in that it extracts something, an intimacy, a force.” [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Images act as portraits by extracting intimacy and force, not merely replicating physical traits. **In simple terms:** Photos capture essence and emotion, not just appearance. Key Takeaway Seek depth and feeling in visual work. Themes photography art theory portraiture semantics emotion Mood contemplative artistic Type critical inspirational When to use this quote - exhibition - personal storytelling - visual journalism Key Concepts intimacy force extraction Questions to Reflect On - What emotions does a photo evoke? - How does a portrait differ from a snapshot? A Different Perspective Images may be misinterpreted without context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) ## Related quotes > [“. . .legends, which in the etymological sense are what one should pass on, are only the symbols of a tradional truth transported from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-markale/legends-which-in-the-etymological-sense-are-what-one-should-pass-on/) Jean Markale > [In a sense, every work you do is a self-portrait because your paintings always reveal more about you than about your subject. Your experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-schmid/in-a-sense-every-work-you-do-is-a-self-portrait-because-your/) [Richard Schmid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-schmid/) > [My dog, Puffy. The dog is the perfect portrait subject. He doesn't pose. He isn't aware of the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-demarchelier/my-dog-puffy-the-dog-is-the-perfect-portrait-subject-he-doesn-t-pose/) [Patrick Demarchelier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-demarchelier/) > [Perhaps I have not lined his portrait too clearly. But if he exists, if only for the reason that I have imagined him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/perhaps-i-have-not-lined-his-portrait-too-clearly-but-if-he-exists-if/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [When painting portraits a lot of people say, 'Why not get a photograph of the person?' Photography is wonderful and it is an art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-wyeth/when-painting-portraits-a-lot-of-people-say-why-not-get-a-photograph/) [Jamie Wyeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-wyeth/) > [Nothing in a portrait is a matter of indifference. Gesture, grimace, clothing, decor even - all must combine to realize a character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/nothing-in-a-portrait-is-a-matter-of-indifference-gesture-grimace/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [My early childhood equipped me really well for my portrait work: The quick encounter, where you are not going to know the subject for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/my-early-childhood-equipped-me-really-well-for-my-portrait-work-the/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-steichen/a-portrait-is-not-made-in-the-camera-but-on-either-side-of-it/) [Edward Steichen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-steichen/) > [Life is a series of family photos in which you keep moving to the rear until finally you're a portrait in the background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/life-is-a-series-of-family-photos-in-which-you-keep-moving-to-the/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [Portrait painters' mission is to portray people and the beauty of Creation. They should stay clear of ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/igor-babailov/portrait-painters-mission-is-to-portray-people-and-the-beauty-of/) [Igor Babailov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/igor-babailov/) > [Eloquence is a painting of thought; and thus those who, after having painted it, add something more, make a picture instead of a portrait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/eloquence-is-a-painting-of-thought-and-thus-those-who-after-having/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [A portrait is a picture in which there is just a tiny little something not quite right about the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/a-portrait-is-a-picture-in-which-there-is-just-a-tiny-little/) [John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/) > [Many times I see you as a portrait of torture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/many-times-i-see-you-as-a-portrait-of-torture/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [In a portrait, you always leave part of yourself behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ellen-mark/in-a-portrait-you-always-leave-part-of-yourself-behind/) [Mary Ellen Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ellen-mark/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by Sally Mann > [My main interest was finding boyfriends. I'd park myself in the bookstore and read with one eye on everyone coming in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/my-main-interest-was-finding-boyfriends-i-d-park-myself-in-the/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) > [Unless you photograph what you love, you're not going to make good art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/unless-you-photograph-what-you-love-you-re-not-going-to-make-good-art/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) > [“I struggle with enormous discrepancies: between the reality of motherhood and the image of it, between my love for my home and the need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/i-struggle-with-enormous-discrepancies-between-the-reality-of/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) > [“If you want to keep a memory pristine, you must not call upon it too often, for each time it is revisited, you alter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/if-you-want-to-keep-a-memory-pristine-you-must-not-call-upon-it-too/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) > [Sometimes, when I get a good picture, it feels like I have taken another nervous step into increasingly rarified air. Each good-news picture, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/sometimes-when-i-get-a-good-picture-it-feels-like-i-have-taken/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) > [One of the things my career as an artist might say to young artists is: The things that are close to you are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/one-of-the-things-my-career-as-an-artist-might-say-to-young-artists/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) > [If it doesn’t have ambiguity, don’t bother to take it. I love that, that aspect of photography—the mendacity of photography—it’s got to have some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/if-it-doesn-t-have-ambiguity-don-t-bother-to-take-it-i-love-that-that/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) > [There is a great quote from a female writer. She said, 'If you don't break out in a sweat of fear when you write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/there-is-a-great-quote-from-a-female-writer-she-said-if-you-don-t/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) > [When the good pictures come, we hope they tell truths, but truths 'told slant,' just as Emily Dickinson commanded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/when-the-good-pictures-come-we-hope-they-tell-truths-but-truths-told/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) > [All the good pictures that came so easily now make the next set of pictures virtually impossible in your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/all-the-good-pictures-that-came-so-easily-now-make-the-next-set-of/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) > [ I’m so worried that I’m going to perfect \[my\] technique someday. I have to say its unfortunate how many of my pictures do depend… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/i-m-so-worried-that-i-m-going-to-perfect-my-technique-someday-i-have/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) > [The things that are close to you are the things you can photograph the best,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/the-things-that-are-close-to-you-are-the-things-you-can-photograph/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) > [Like all photographers, I depend on serendipity, and when you're photographing children there's often an abundance of it. I would have an idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/like-all-photographers-i-depend-on-serendipity-and-when-you-re/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) > [I’m past photographing to see what things look like photographed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/i-m-past-photographing-to-see-what-things-look-like-photographed/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) > [What is truth in photography? It can be told in a hundred different ways. Every thirtieth of a second when the shutter snaps, its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/what-is-truth-in-photography-it-can-be-told-in-a-hundred-different/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) [Explore all 44 Sally Mann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) ## More Draws quotes > [You can draw power from everything in your life. In order to do that, everything has to be set up in a proper way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-draw-power-from-everything-in-your-life-in-order-to-do-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [No one can come to me unless the Father draws him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/no-one-can-come-to-me-unless-the-father-draws-him/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [When I talked to him earlier, he said he had to work tonight,” Peter explained, “but that we should go ahead and draw for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/when-i-talked-to-him-earlier-he-said-he-had-to-work-tonight-peter/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I would warn against holsters with devices for quick-draw. Devices always fail when you need them most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-powell/i-would-warn-against-holsters-with-devices-for-quick-draw-devices/) [William Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-powell/) > [It is the common defect of modern art study. Too many students do not know why they draw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/it-is-the-common-defect-of-modern-art-study-too-many-students-do-not/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [They say that art comes from the soul. The more drama in an artist's life, the more he can draw on for his art.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/they-say-that-art-comes-from-the-soul-the-more-drama-in-an-artist-s/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [If you were to draw Bugs, the easiest way is to learn how to draw a carrot and then hook a rabbit onto it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-jones/if-you-were-to-draw-bugs-the-easiest-way-is-to-learn-how-to-draw-a/) [Chuck Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-jones/) > [I'm not sure I would have ever started to draw, let alone write, if my childhood hadn't been so happy. It was a mixture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-m-not-sure-i-would-have-ever-started-to-draw-let-alone-write-if-my/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [You are quite, quite wrong if you think that ... I find your happiness painful. What matters is that happiness - the golden day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/you-are-quite-quite-wrong-if-you-think-that-i-find-your-happiness/) [Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/) > [All labours draw hame at even, And can to others say, "Thanks to the gracious God of heaven, Whilk sent this summer day."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hume/all-labours-draw-hame-at-even-and-can-to-others-say-thanks-to-the/) Alexander Hume > [Your deeper sense isn’t a springboard; it’s a landing place. If you draw conclusions too quickly or too slowly, you’ll establish your self where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/your-deeper-sense-isn-t-a-springboard-it-s-a-landing-place-if-you/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [What I would say to filmmakers, if I may be so bold or so arrogant, is to draw inspiration from other filmmakers, but go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/what-i-would-say-to-filmmakers-if-i-may-be-so-bold-or-so-arrogant-is/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) Browse all 3,197 Draws quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every image is in some way a “portrait,” not in the way that it would reproduce the traits of a person, but in that it pulls and draws (this is the semantic and etymological sense of the word), in that it extracts something, an intimacy, a force.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sally Mann" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/every-image-is-in-some-way-a-portrait-not-in-the-way-that-it-would/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Draws" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/every-image-is-in-some-way-a-portrait-not-in-the-way-that-it-would/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c6/sally-mann-15174_draws_every-image-is-in-some-way-a-portrait-no_2981465.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c6/sally-mann-15174_draws_every-image-is-in-some-way-a-portrait-no_2981465.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c6/sally-mann-15174_draws_every-image-is-in-some-way-a-portrait-no_2981465.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every image is in some way a “portrait,” not in the way that it would reproduce the traits of a person, but…” — Sally Mann", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sally Mann", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Every image is in some way...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/every-image-is-in-some-way-a-portrait-not-in-the-way-that-it-would/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/every-image-is-in-some-way-a-portrait-not-in-the-way-that-it-would/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```