John O'Conner

Through the History of Portraiture, we have seen humans portrayed
as omens and sacred fetishes, divine beings and historical personages,
a part of nature and conquerors of nature, passionate individuals and
part of a mass consciousness, subjects of experimentation and icons of self.

But we have never sufficiently defined portraiture.
I have avoided this subject precisely because it is a source of
endless interpretation, and in history one must take care not to impose
their own standards on the works in question.

But in lieu of a clear definition of what constitutes portraiture,
I will offer my personal interpretation.

Portraiture is the art that remembers a person at their most manifest moment,
and relates their story to the world.