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…

Poisson à l'oeil rouge

Olivier Daumas

Painting . 39 x 47 cm Painting . 15.4 x 18.5 inch

$642

Dressed for a wedding

Dzovig Arnelian

Painting . 30 x 20 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.2 inch

$217 $195

Blue Heaven

Ger Doornink

Print . 67 x 65.5 cm Print . 26.4 x 25.8 inch

$1,039

Women

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings . 5 x 12 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 2 x 4.7 x 0 inch

$525

Un souffle bleu

Lisbeth Buonanno

Painting . 14 x 10 x 0.1 cm Painting . 5.5 x 3.9 x 0 inch

$525

Mazel Tov 4

Katalin Soós

Painting . 20 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 7.9 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

$292

Burna

Fresha D

Painting . 100 x 73 x 2 cm Painting . 39.4 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch

$875

Invocation

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

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

$2,917

La passion

Dominique Dève

Painting . 29 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.4 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$292

Ich habe techno musik gehort

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

Painting . 97 x 65 x 0.1 cm Painting . 38.2 x 25.6 x 0 inch

$3,209

Etude de "La bataille de Näfels"

Henri Fehr

Fine Art Drawings . 20 x 44 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 7.9 x 17.3 x 0.1 inch

$551

Desvelo III

Rocio Mazuecos

Painting . 20 x 20 x 2 cm Painting . 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

$583

Colors

Dominique Dève

Fine Art Drawings . 29 x 21 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.4 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

$292

El coro

Rocio Mazuecos

Painting . 195 x 130 x 2.5 cm Painting . 76.8 x 51.2 x 1 inch

$10,724

Individuation

Olivier Massebeuf

Painting . 116 x 81 x 2 cm Painting . 45.7 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch

$1,400

Conflict

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 29 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$467

Les mains du temps

Lisbeth Buonanno

Painting . 14.5 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting . 5.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$350

Moldavite

Lisbeth Buonanno

Painting . 10 x 15 x 0.1 cm Painting . 3.9 x 5.9 x 0 inch

$525

Smoking Man

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 28.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.2 x 0 inch

$443

Diletta II

Dominique Dève

Fine Art Drawings . 29 x 21 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.4 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

$292

Unfathomable Depth 1

Olivier Massebeuf

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

$1,400

Let there be light !

Olivier Massebeuf

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

$1,050

Jeune femme

Henri Fehr

Fine Art Drawings . 29 x 22 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.4 x 8.7 x 0.1 inch

$538

Emerald Glow

Lisbeth Buonanno

Painting . 15 x 10 x 0.1 cm Painting . 5.9 x 3.9 x 0 inch

$350

Une rencontre inattendue

Lisbeth Buonanno

Painting . 19 x 24 x 2 cm Painting . 7.5 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

$560

Discipline 1

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

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

$1,109

The artist's funeral

Olivier Massebeuf

Painting . 50 x 100 x 2.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 39.4 x 1 inch

$817

The Poppy

Olivier Massebeuf

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

$700

Long Neck

Dominique Dève

Fine Art Drawings . 34 x 24 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.4 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch

$303

Des étoiles pour toi

Lisbeth Buonanno

Painting . 15 x 10 x 0.1 cm Painting . 5.9 x 3.9 x 0 inch

$350

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

$992

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

$1,109

Pathos

Dominique Dève

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$315

DMX

Erdna André

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

$700

Sublimation III

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

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

$1,109

Hanging by a thread

Olivier Massebeuf

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

$583

Lumière volée

Nathan Chantob

Painting . 130 x 97 x 3 cm Painting . 51.2 x 38.2 x 1.2 inch

$9,335

Anaïs

Ger Doornink

Print . 67 x 65.5 cm Print . 26.4 x 25.8 inch

$1,039

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

$1,109

The Associate

Dominique Dève

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$315

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

$1,109

Octobre, the hairless cat II

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

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

$992

Mistery

Hildegarde Handsaeme

Fine Art Drawings . 76 x 55 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 29.9 x 21.7 x 0.4 inch

$607

Restraint

Olivier Massebeuf

Print . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$82

Combat

Dominique Dève

Fine Art Drawings . 34 x 24 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.4 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch

$303

Silent gift 2

Damilola Ilori

Fine Art Drawings . 76.2 x 58.4 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 23 x 1 inch

$467 $420

The man next door I

Gerry Nnubia

Painting . 27.9 x 21 cm Painting . 11 x 8.25 inch

$467

Little Touch

Ger Doornink

Painting . 70 x 70 x 4 cm Painting . 27.6 x 27.6 x 1.6 inch

$9,919

Amulet

Olivier Massebeuf

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

$700

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

$992

Octobre, the hairless cat III

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

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

$992

Notorious

Erdna André

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

$583

La chambre

Smoka

Painting . 70 x 50 x 3.5 cm Painting . 27.6 x 19.7 x 1.4 inch

$700

Snoop

Erdna André

Painting . 65 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

$700

Aya

Fresha D

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

$560

DMX

Fresha D

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

$560

Silent gift 1

Damilola Ilori

Fine Art Drawings . 76.2 x 58.4 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 23 x 1 inch

$467 $420

Stella Serena

Ger Doornink

Painting . 50 x 70 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 27.6 x 1.6 inch

$9,919

Naturae

Smoka

Painting . 60 x 80 x 5 cm Painting . 23.6 x 31.5 x 2 inch

$747

Untitled

Damilola Ilori

Fine Art Drawings . 30.5 x 25.4 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12 x 10 x 1 inch

$434 $390

Echoes of Self

Damilola Ilori

Fine Art Drawings . 25.4 x 30.5 x 3.8 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10 x 12 x 1.5 inch

$434 $390

Quiet Time

Damilola Ilori

Fine Art Drawings . 25.4 x 30.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10 x 12 inch

$467 $420

Le jardinier

Smoka

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

$747

Charlène

Christie Nguyen

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

$7,001

Missing

Olivier Massebeuf

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

$408

Le Naufrage

Olivier Massebeuf

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

$408

The inmate and the Black Virgin

Olivier Massebeuf

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

$525

Charlotte I

Dominique Dève

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.4 x 0 inch

$350

Woman

Hom Nguyen

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

Price upon request

Un monde meilleur

Hom Nguyen

Painting . 180 x 140 x 5 cm Painting . 70.9 x 55.1 x 2 inch

Price upon request

Les brûmes de Londres

Christie Nguyen

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

$11,669

Pulchritudo Vincit Omnia

Ger Doornink

Painting . 60 x 60 x 4 cm Painting . 23.6 x 23.6 x 1.6 inch

$8,752 $7,877

Mohamed

Erdna André

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

$467

Talina

Sébastien Allart

Painting . 60 x 180 x 4 cm Painting . 23.6 x 70.9 x 1.6 inch

Price upon request

Dédain

Erdna André

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

$467

L’Ouverture d’Espirit

Ger Doornink

Painting . 70 x 70 x 4 cm Painting . 27.6 x 27.6 x 1.6 inch

$9,919 $8,927

Untitled 8-1-21

Montse Valdés

Painting . 74 x 54 x 3 cm Painting . 29.1 x 21.3 x 1.2 inch

Price upon request

Untitled 7-1-21

Montse Valdés

Painting . 65 x 54 x 3.5 cm Painting . 25.6 x 21.3 x 1.4 inch

Price upon request

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

$758

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

$758

Béatrice, beauté sauvage

Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle

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

$758

Untitled 6-1-21

Montse Valdés

Painting . 60 x 100 x 3 cm Painting . 23.6 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

Price upon request

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

$582

Untitled 1-4-9

Montse Valdés

Painting . 92 x 73 x 3 cm Painting . 36.2 x 28.7 x 1.2 inch

Price upon request

Le Kazakhs

Olivier Daumas

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

$3,501

Petit Collin

Lisbeth Buonanno

Painting . 9 x 8 x 1 cm Painting . 3.5 x 3.1 x 0.4 inch

$350

Femme assise sur la jetée

David Kandelaki

Painting . 75 x 55 x 2 cm Painting . 29.5 x 21.7 x 0.8 inch

$408 $368

Ivry 1995

Marie-Ange Daudé

Painting . 100 x 100 x 1 cm Painting . 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch

$3,034

Nid sur fond rouge

David Jamin

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1 inch

$805

Nid

David Jamin

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1 inch

$805

Respiro

David Jamin

Painting . 130 x 97 x 2.5 cm Painting . 51.2 x 38.2 x 1 inch

$4,901

Reverb

David Jamin

Painting . 130 x 97 x 2.5 cm Painting . 51.2 x 38.2 x 1 inch

$4,901

Parisian Bakery

Ruslana Levandovska

Painting . 76.2 x 61 x 1.9 cm Painting . 30 x 24 x 0.75 inch

$7,804

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