The most famous portrait in the world is the Mona Lisa, which is a portrait of a woman of the same name.
When the artist creates a portrait in his or her own image, it is called a self-portrait. Many of the most famous works of artists have been self-portraits.
Portrait photography is a popular commercial industry all over the world. Many people enjoy having professionally-made family portraits to hang in their house, or special portraits to commemorate certain events, such as graduations or weddings.
In politics, portraits of the leader are often used as a symbol of the state. No matter where you are, in most countries it is common protocol for a portrait of the Head of State to appear in important government buildings. When portraits of the leader are used excessively, it becomes a sign of a personality cult.
In literature the term "portrait" refers to a written description or analysis of a person or thing. A written portrait often gives deep insight, and offers an analysis that goes far beyond the superficial. For example, American author Patricia Cornwell wrote a popular novel intitled Portrait of a Killer about the personality, background, and possible motivations of Jack the Ripper, as well as the media coverage of his murders, and the subsquent police investigation of his crimes.External links