Portrait
THE PORTRAITS AIM TO CAPTURE NOT ONLY THE PHYSIOGNOMY, BUT ALSO THE ESSENCE OF THE PORTRAYED PERSON, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN HIS OR HER FEATURES.
CREATING SUCH AN AUTHENTIC PORTRAIT REQUIRES A CAREFUL APPROACH TO THE PERSON. AT THE SAME TIME, THIS RAISES THE DEEP PSYCHOLOGICAL QUESTION OF HOW MUCH THE ARTIST IS WILLING TO REVEAL OF HERSELF AND OF HER RELATIONSHIP TO THE PERSON.
EXPRESSION AND THE GAZE ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF FACES.
IT REQUIRES AN ACTIVE EFFORT TO ESTABLISH EYE CONTACT WITH THE FIGURES. THEY SEEM TO LOOK PAST US, JUST AS A LIVING PERSON WOULD AVOID THE GAZE OF THE ONE WHO STARES AT HIM.
THE WORKS BEAR THE RESPECTIVE FIRST NAMES AS TITLES. IT CAN BE GUESSED THAT THERE IS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP BEHIND EACH OF THEM. THE PORTRAYED ARE FRIENDS, FELLOW STUDENTS, ALSO THE ARTIST’S OWN CHILDREN.
THE FACES INVITE US TO ATTRIBUTE CHARACTER TRAITS TO THEM. ONE WOULD LIKE TO ASK THEM: WHO ARE YOU?
DR. KATHRIN ELLWARDT