Psychological Portraits

Psychological portraits are mostly subjective portraits that ‘paint’ a portrait of the inner world of the soul by looking unflinchingly at human attitudes, emotional states and idiosyncrasies. These, often grotesque faces, borrow from “Study of Grotesque Heads,” created by Leonardo da Vinci circa 1494, reflecting the period’s heightened interest in the human condition and character. As with Leonardo, these heads each bear exaggerated and varied expressions that capture the essence of grotesqueness. The subjects range from shock, to more subdued and contemplative visages. This series echoes Leonardo’s fascination with physiognomy and mastery in rendering the human features with exceptional attention to detail, depth, and character.

Beauty (bellezza) and ugliness (brutteza) appear each more powerful when seen in contrast, one with the other.
— Leonardo
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