Portrait

Sadness, melancholy and gloom have found an outlet in artists throughout history and in the depiction of figurative art. Through artists, humanity and their emotional and physical states are portrayed to be viewed and related to. The instant recognition of such a grave subject also plagues human history itself, thus carving out its own rightful spot amongst the history of art movements. In Edgar Degas' 1875 painting L'Absinthe, where viewers see a portrait of a young woman solemnly contemplating her situation, disengaged from their gaze, her surroundings, maybe even from herself.

Dark hues and colors define somber portrait painting and can highlight the cause of such sadness, whether that be the subject's emotional state or a greater rendering of the world's expanse and the human existence within it. Existential or not, the traits of somber artwork can be found in our own collection of portraits on Artsper. The portraiture work of Nicolas Fropo de Habart works the body in all its dimensions to create an absolute feeling of vastness while Antoine Stevens also depicts wandering souls in his dimmed portraiture. But given the nature of humanity, somber depictions of the figure are not entirely unexpected…

Portrait

Guy Ghazanchyan

Painting . 30 x 21 x 0.2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

CHF 433

Portrait

Guy Ghazanchyan

Painting . 30 x 21 x 0.2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

CHF 433

Low life

Lisbeth Buonanno

Painting . 89 x 139 x 1.8 cm Painting . 35 x 54.7 x 0.7 inch

CHF 3,851

Gaviera

Alejandra Caballero

Painting . 80 x 120 x 3 cm Painting . 31.5 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch

CHF 4,333

The sweet wait

Reinaldo Chavez

Painting . 19 x 13 cm Painting . 7.5 x 5.1 inch

CHF 279

La muse de plumes

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 71 x 65 x 0.1 cm Painting . 28 x 25.6 x 0 inch

CHF 915

I'm going to be a pilot

Melinda Matyas

Painting . 80 x 60 x 2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 4,814

Aigua II

Teresa Riba

Sculpture . 45 x 12 x 9 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 4.7 x 3.5 inch

CHF 3,659

Philippe Poupon

Maud Bernos

Photography . 15 x 15 cm Photography . 5.9 x 5.9 inch

CHF 250

Pulchrum foruM - Format M

Louis Blanc

Photography . 50 x 50 x 1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 867

Blessing No. 2

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 cm Painting . 20 x 16 inch

CHF 206

Ne faire plus qu'un #2

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 50 x 65 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 25.6 x 0 inch

CHF 818

L'érosion des Chimères

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 24 x 36 x 2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 14.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,059

Interlude No. 3

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 cm Painting . 16 x 20 inch

CHF 250

Swallow No. 38

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 cm Painting . 20 x 16 inch

CHF 161

Endure No. 2

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 cm Painting . 20 x 16 inch

CHF 296

Abyss

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 cm Painting . 20 x 16 inch

CHF 250

Awe

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 cm Painting . 20 x 16 inch

CHF 206

Las curvas

James Sparshatt

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

CHF 708

Identity No. 2

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 61 x 45.7 cm Painting . 24 x 18 inch

CHF 322

Without

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 cm Painting . 20 x 16 inch

CHF 206

Touch No. 7

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 cm Painting . 16 x 20 inch

CHF 384

Cœur Noir & Lumière Rouge

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 27 x 38 x 3 cm Painting . 10.6 x 15 x 1.2 inch

CHF 1,155

Mirant el mar I

Teresa Riba

Sculpture . 44 x 10 x 9 cm Sculpture . 17.3 x 3.9 x 3.5 inch

CHF 3,947

Caresse bleu cadium

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 22 x 32 x 2 cm Painting . 8.7 x 12.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 915

La sève

Julien Cuny

Painting . 65 x 50 cm Painting . 25.6 x 19.7 inch

CHF 241

The cage

Olivier Massebeuf

Painting . 116 x 81 x 2.5 cm Painting . 45.7 x 31.9 x 1 inch

CHF 1,155

Splashed emotions

Dzovig Arnelian

Painting . 48 x 38 x 0.2 cm Painting . 18.9 x 15 x 0.1 inch

CHF 626

Majesté

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting . 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 818

Charles Auxences était Duc mais surtout un Trouduc

G. Carta

Painting . 21 x 14.8 x 0.1 cm Painting . 8.3 x 5.8 x 0 inch

CHF 241

But you can't kill me

Olivier Massebeuf

Painting . 116 x 73 x 2.5 cm Painting . 45.7 x 28.7 x 1 inch

CHF 1,155

Au Cabaret

Yves Brayer

Fine Art Drawings . 31.5 x 24 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.4 x 9.4 inch

CHF 289

Au Cabaret

Yves Brayer

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 21 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.3 inch

CHF 289

Boris ne manque pas d'idées pour gacher la fête d'anniversaire de sa copine

G. Carta

Painting . 21 x 14.8 x 0.1 cm Painting . 8.3 x 5.8 x 0 inch

CHF 241

La muse de vinyle

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting . 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 915

Followspot

Olivier Massebeuf

Painting . 81 x 100 x 3 cm Painting . 31.9 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

CHF 867

Please feed on my love

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 56 x 76 x 0.1 cm Painting . 22 x 29.9 x 0 inch

CHF 1,107

Murmures

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting . 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 818

Sabbat

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 76 x 56 x 0.1 cm Painting . 29.9 x 22 x 0 inch

CHF 1,107

The last dance

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 76 x 56 x 0.1 cm Painting . 29.9 x 22 x 0 inch

CHF 1,107

Breast Print 28

Dzovig Arnelian

Painting . 15.2 x 15.2 x 0.4 cm Painting . 6 x 6 x 0.2 inch

CHF 223 CHF 201

Domestic yellows III

Dzovig Arnelian

Painting . 26 x 12 x 0.5 cm Painting . 10.2 x 4.7 x 0.2 inch

CHF 223

Domestic yellows I

Dzovig Arnelian

Painting . 26.5 x 16.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 10.4 x 6.5 x 0.2 inch

CHF 223

Meditation II

Dzovig Arnelian

Painting . 28 x 13 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11 x 5.1 x 0.2 inch

CHF 223 CHF 201

Meditation I

Dzovig Arnelian

Painting . 28 x 12.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11 x 4.9 x 0.2 inch

CHF 223

Invocation

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 100 x 73 x 3 cm Painting . 39.4 x 28.7 x 1.2 inch

CHF 2,407

Il est mien #2

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 70 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 27.6 x 0.2 inch

CHF 915

Unfathomable Depth 1

Olivier Massebeuf

Painting . 116 x 81 x 3 cm Painting . 45.7 x 31.9 x 1.2 inch

CHF 1,155

Let there be light !

Olivier Massebeuf

Painting . 100 x 80 x 2.5 cm Painting . 39.4 x 31.5 x 1 inch

CHF 867

Après l'expo

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 70 x 50 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

CHF 915

The Poppy

Olivier Massebeuf

Painting . 73 x 60 x 2.5 cm Painting . 28.7 x 23.6 x 1 inch

CHF 578

Maria

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 818

Retiens moi encore un peu

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 76 x 56 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 29.9 x 22 x 0 inch

CHF 1,107

Blackened Lovers #8

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 76 x 56 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 29.9 x 22 x 0 inch

CHF 915

Hanging by a thread

Olivier Massebeuf

Painting . 73 x 60 x 2.5 cm Painting . 28.7 x 23.6 x 1 inch

CHF 481

Intime Résidence #2

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 76 x 56 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 29.9 x 22 x 0 inch

CHF 915

Meet the Reaper

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 818

Craving You

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 76 x 56 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 29.9 x 22 x 0 inch

CHF 915

Divas, champagne and bla bla bla #4

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 818

Blue Monday

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 818

La Mangrove

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 76 x 56 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 29.9 x 22 x 0 inch

CHF 915

Elle & Moi #4

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 56 x 76 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 22 x 29.9 x 0 inch

CHF 915

Divas, champagne & blablabla VI

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 65 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 25.6 x 0 inch

CHF 818

The Pianist #1

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 59 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 23.2 x 16.5 x 0 inch

CHF 626

Seb, the smartphone junkie

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 42 x 55 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 21.7 x 0 inch

CHF 722

Missing

Olivier Massebeuf

Painting . 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

CHF 337

Le Naufrage

Olivier Massebeuf

Painting . 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

CHF 337

The inmate and the Black Virgin

Olivier Massebeuf

Painting . 61 x 31 x 3 cm Painting . 24 x 12.2 x 1.2 inch

CHF 433

Red Lisa #5

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 38 x 46 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15 x 18.1 x 0 inch

CHF 626

Red Lisa #4

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 46 x 38 x 0.1 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 0 inch

CHF 626

Red Lisa #9

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 46 x 38 x 0.1 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 0 inch

CHF 626

L'un à l'autre

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 70 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 27.6 x 0 inch

CHF 818

Red Lisa 10

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 46 x 38 x 0.1 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 0 inch

CHF 626

Kat, the mistress of the night

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 70 x 50 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

CHF 915

The Pianist #4

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 59 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 23.2 x 0 inch

CHF 626

The Pianist #3

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 59 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 23.2 x 0 inch

CHF 626

Dindette & Dindonneau 2

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 39 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 15.4 x 0 inch

CHF 480

Noir Boudoir

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 150 x 210 x 0.1 cm Painting . 59.1 x 82.7 x 0 inch

CHF 4,814

Femmes

Alain Bonnefoit

Print . 39 x 29 x 8.5 cm Print . 15.4 x 11.4 x 3.3 inch

CHF 1,444

Nu allongé

Olivier Daumas

Fine Art Drawings . 16 x 26 x 0.02 cm Fine Art Drawings . 6.3 x 10.2 x 0 inch

CHF 144

Corps en course

Benjamin Carbonne

Painting . 116 x 89 x 2 cm Painting . 45.7 x 35 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,947

La danse

Alain Bonnefoit

Painting . 116 x 76.5 cm Painting . 45.7 x 30.1 inch

CHF 2,407

Anne

Philippe Pasqua

Painting . 120 x 100.5 x 10 cm Painting . 47.2 x 39.6 x 3.9 inch

CHF 14,442

Relax, They have Flown away

Ilia Balavadze

Painting . 80 x 100 x 3 cm Painting . 31.5 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

CHF 1,637

Resting

Ilia Balavadze

Painting . 80 x 100 x 3 cm Painting . 31.5 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

CHF 2,022

Girls

Ilia Balavadze

Painting . 60 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 23.6 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

CHF 1,637

Swimming Pool

Ilia Balavadze

Painting . 100 x 110 x 3 cm Painting . 39.4 x 43.3 x 1.2 inch

CHF 2,022

The bridge

Katarzyna Szydlowska

Painting . 46 x 38 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 inch

CHF 1,155

Silence

Isabelle Lebret

Painting . 50 x 100 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

CHF 3,370

Adèle n°3 - Nue position ciseaux

Cécile Desserle

Painting . 89 x 116 x 2 cm Painting . 35 x 45.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,659

Nu Assis (Lust 53), rare hand signed lithograph

Alberto Giacometti

Print . 64.8 x 44.5 x 0.3 cm Print . 25.5 x 17.5 x 0.1 inch

CHF 15,382

On the Bech

Ilia Balavadze

Painting . 65 x 150 x 3 cm Painting . 25.6 x 59.1 x 1.2 inch

CHF 2,503

Reading Freud

Jennifer DeGroot

Painting . 61 x 122 x 4 cm Painting . 24 x 48 x 1.6 inch

CHF 1,329

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