Environmental Portraiture

An environmental portrait is a portrait taken of a subject in that subject’s natural environment, such as their home or workplace. This genre of portraiture is often used to communicate a subject’s lifestyle and interests with a better understanding of their character. The term is usually related to photographic portraiture but could also be applied to portrait paintings, such as in The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein the Younger. By photographing or painting a person in their natural surroundings, it is intended that the artist will more clearly portray the subject’s character and personality.

Environmental portraiture allows a deeper representation of the subject that expresses the essence of the person and not just a representation of their physical form. The genre aims to relax the subject in an environment that is more comfortable to them in contrast to a sterile, often artificial studio setting. Environmental portraiture is also very popular in animal portraits as depicting the subject is beneficial in a home or natural environment where animals are more conducive to being photographed.

Key Terms: subject, personality, character, objects, detail, symbolism, depth, balance, environmental portraiture

Explore: Cindy Sherman, Hans Holbein the Younger

The Ambassadors 1533, Arnold Abner Newman Milton Avery 1960

Primary

1. Do mum or dad have a job? If you went to their work, what would you see? Draw a picture with your parent at their work with those things.

2. Find a portrait in the exhibition. What job does the sitter do? Explain how you know this.

Suggested activity

In pairs, ask your classmate what he/she likes to do, what he/she is good at, and how he/she feels today. Use the activity sheet on page 22 and draw the answers to your questions in the circles. Now draw a picture of your friend. See if your classmates can recognise who it is from the clues.

Secondary

1. Research Cindy Sherman and write 100 words on why many of her works are considered environmental portraits. Consider the elements she has used.

2. Use Arnold Abner Newman’s Milton Avery (1960) and analyse how he has achieved balance between the background/surroundings and the subject in this portrait. Determine some other elements of environmental portraiture that are prevalent in Arnold Abner Newman’s work, and discuss these with a partner.

Suggested activity

Develop an environmental portrait photo shoot either indoors or outdoors. Use this shoot to reflect on your understanding of the elements of environmental portraiture by assessing the surroundings, objects and placement of the subject in this space. During this process you may also like to consider and express the subject’s personal history and represent this through your work.