#art, Portraits by Bodo Vespaciano…

Portraits… why? What is in a portrait? At first there were no portraits. Then the portraits done mostly of religious figures.

Then came the 15th-century and the Renaissance in Europe and portraits became very popular. The reasons: A growing emphasis on the individual, advancements in oil painting technology, and increased wealth. Of course this is what allowed them the privilege of having their portrait done and what they were going to do with it, which was displaying it as a symbol of status and power. Before this, portraits were largely limited to ancient cultures, and in the late Middle Ages, they began to appear as more realistic depictions of specific individuals rather than general religious figures.

Here are a few of the portraits I have done throughout this 2025. They are not religious figures, kings or noble folk. They are a thought, an idea, a search for what a portrait really is. Is it a mirror? Is it a mask? Is it a psychological reflection of the subject? I don’t know…

CHEERS