A Good Portrait is Evidence of Love

You know what is special about having your portrait painted? When your portrait is painted, you are known. A camera can take a photograph of you and represent your physical image with greater technical fidelity than any painter, but you are not known by the camera, and the picture produced by the camera will be no more seen than you are. Others will glance at a photograph of you just as they glance at you - quickly, carelessly, without understanding. But the painter must know you in order to paint you. He must look carefully at you. He must let go of every presumption, and regard you with clear eyes. He must attempt to represent you, notice where his representation is incorrect, realize that his understanding of you was incorrect, realize that he failed to see you as you are, regard you afresh, and correct his understanding until he is able to represent you faithfully. A portrait is no mere image. It is evidence that its subject has been known - at least by one other living person, the artist - which is to say that he or she has been loved.