On the Artistic Features of Western Traditional Portraits

From the second half of the14th century, the dark Middle Ages gradually declined, Europe began to transition from feudal society to capitalist society, and the new seeds of capitalism gradually sprouted, which triggered ideological and cultural changes. Italy began an unprecedented magnificent social innovation movement, trying to get rid of the shackles of feudal autocracy in both material and spiritual aspects, which is called "Renaissance" in history. Beginning with the revival of classical literature, it gradually involved science, culture, economy and other fields, and the whole society and people's ideas began to change. The guiding ideology of the Renaissance is humanism, which advocates taking the secular "man" as the center and affirms that "man" is the creator and enjoyment of real life. Humanists opposed the "divinity" of the church by preaching "humanity" and the "theocracy" of the Middle Ages by advocating "human rights".

Under the influence of this humanistic trend of thought, artistic creation has also begun to undergo profound changes, showing distinctive characteristics of the times. Art is no longer a slave to religious theology, but begins to depict secular people and their real lives in subject matter. Even religious myths have injected humanity and people's thoughts and feelings, turning God into a secular person. With the rise and popularization of humanism in the Renaissance, we advocate respecting people. The value of human beings is affirmed, and portraits depicting secular people and their real lives appear. With the gradual loosening of religion and king's rule and the emergence of the merchant class after industrialization, portraits depicting ordinary people have developed rapidly. Portrait painting has become an extremely important theme in oil painting. At that time, almost every painter painted portraits.

Italy, the birthplace of the Renaissance, developed more freely than other countries. Italian artists have been trying to express their individuality since Giotto. Artists attach importance to the diversity of personality, and gradually show this strong desire in their works of art. Early Bolayou Oro and others began to paint portraits, and their works began to show the details of people's lives. Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa vividly shows the subtle psychological activities of the characters with superb artistic techniques and becomes a masterpiece in portrait painting. Another portrait of leonardo da vinci, The Portrait of Genevieira de Bence, is now in the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., which indicates the maturity of leonardo da vinci's personal style. The composition of the painting is calm, the outline of the woman in the painting is combined with reality, her cheeks are slightly wide and her thin lips are closed, so the painter portrays her character very skillfully. The gloom of needle-like leaves is in sharp contrast with the bright face and soft hair of women. Pointy pine needles suggest the character's introverted and mean character, and the looming scenery behind the background seems to echo the unknown secret world in her heart.