Thinking of giving art for Christmas? Explore our gift guide

Portrait

Portraits are one of the oldest genres of painting known to art, and it first appeared in ancient Egypt. For several centuries, there was a tendency to idealize features in order flatter important patrons for whom the portrait was for. Then, progressively, artists started to turn to ordinary people for their sitters, with fewer requirements limiting their choices, they were able to paint increasingly realist works. 

Portraiture was influenced by the many movements of the 20th century and, rather than getting closer to reality, painters used portraits as a means to experiment with new artistic techniques and theories. Photography and sculpture followed a similar path, thus showing the incredible creativity and interpretation of artists. 

Today there is an enormous variety of unusual portraits that don't aim flatter their sitters in the least but rather be expressive. Disfigured faces, surprising collages, distorted human forms and even creatures that are half-human, half-animal: there are no rules and creativity flows!

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Photography, Blue Blondie, Mick Rock

Mick Rock

Photography - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$2,413

Print, Osun, Carol Muthiga-Oyekunle

Carol Muthiga-Oyekunle

Print - 110 x 110 x 0.1 cm Print - 43.3 x 43.3 x 0 inch

$1,216 $1,156

Photography, Kashi, John Kenny

John Kenny

Photography - 67 x 45 x 2 cm Photography - 26.4 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,600

Painting, Sun-mariko, Monika Nowak

Monika Nowak

Painting - 150 x 100 x 6 cm Painting - 59.1 x 39.4 x 2.4 inch

$10,629

Photography, Cow on Red (L), Randal Ford

Randal Ford

Photography - 121.9 x 121.9 cm Photography - 48 x 48 inch

$5,800

Photography, Andy Warhol, Philippe Halsman

Philippe Halsman

Photography - 60 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

$1,210

Photography, Khalid (Sinouh), Erwin Olaf

Erwin Olaf

Photography - 118.5 x 84 x 3 cm Photography - 46.7 x 33.1 x 1.2 inch

$10,996

Photography, Girl 2020, Jochen Cerny

Jochen Cerny

Photography - 160 x 120.1 x 2.8 cm Photography - 63 x 47.3 x 1.1 inch

$6,330

Photography, Untitled, Jack Daly

Jack Daly

Photography - 101.6 x 154.2 x 0.2 cm Photography - 40 x 60.7 x 0.1 inch

$6,875

Photography, Venus, Tyler Shields

Tyler Shields

Photography - 45.7 x 45.7 cm Photography - 18 x 18 inch

$2,500

Photography, Dolce Vita, Yves Hayat

Yves Hayat

Photography - 24 x 36 cm Photography - 9.4 x 14.2 inch

$2,688

Photography, Marilyn Monroe, Cornell Capa

Cornell Capa

Photography - 45.7 x 61 x 5.1 cm Photography - 18 x 24 x 2 inch

$1,350

Print, Gueisha (1), Sylvie Cappe

Sylvie Cappe

Print - 90 x 30 x 0.03 cm Print - 35.4 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$238

Print, Mucha III, Ramon Maiden

Ramon Maiden

Print - 52.5 x 33.5 cm Print - 20.7 x 13.2 inch

$305

Photography, Platonic Moon, Franz West

Franz West

Photography - 30 x 42.7 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 16.8 x 0.4 inch

$1,833

Photography, Greed Is Good, Nick Veasey

Nick Veasey

Photography - 119 x 119 x 1 cm Photography - 46.9 x 46.9 x 0.4 inch

$15,883

Print, Fashion, Nonsuch

Nonsuch

Print - 70 x 50 cm Print - 27.6 x 19.7 inch

$305

Photography, Hearts, Zoobs Ansari

Zoobs Ansari

Photography - 120 x 180 cm Photography - 47.2 x 70.9 inch

$9,774

Print, Maria Callas, J.C. Kanter

J.C. Kanter

Print - 70 x 70 x 0.3 cm Print - 27.6 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

$550

Photography, Nu Divin N29, Ronald Martinez

Ronald Martinez

Photography - 60 x 44 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 17.3 x 0 inch

$5,131

Photography, Five dots (S), Brice Gelot

Brice Gelot

Photography - 40 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

$2,199

Photography, David Bowie, Mick Rock

Mick Rock

Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$3,006

Photography, David Bowie, Mick Rock

Mick Rock

Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$3,006

Photography, Bowie Space Oddity, Mick Rock

Mick Rock

Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$3,006

Photography, Bowie In Suit, Mick Rock

Mick Rock

Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$3,006

Photography, Bowie Backstage, Mick Rock

Mick Rock

Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$3,006

Photography, Five dots (L), Brice Gelot

Brice Gelot

Photography - 80 x 120 x 1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0.4 inch

$9,774

Photography, Reckless (S), Brice Gelot

Brice Gelot

Photography - 40 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

$2,199

Photography, Hood raised (S), Brice Gelot

Brice Gelot

Photography - 40 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

$2,199

Photography, East los (S), Brice Gelot

Brice Gelot

Photography - 40 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

$2,199

Photography, Prayers (S), Brice Gelot

Brice Gelot

Photography - 40 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

$2,199

Photography, Five dots (M), Brice Gelot

Brice Gelot

Photography - 60 x 90 x 1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 35.4 x 0.4 inch

$4,521

Photography, Misled youth (S), Brice Gelot

Brice Gelot

Photography - 40 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

$2,199

Photography, Evil side (S), Brice Gelot

Brice Gelot

Photography - 40 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

$2,199

Photography, Homeboys (S), Brice Gelot

Brice Gelot

Photography - 40 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

$2,199