A work that represents the likeness of a specific individual, group or animal is called what?

• A. Portrait
• B. Portraiture
• C. Sculpture
• D. Relief

Answer: (A)

Representing the likeness of a specific individual, group, or animal in a work of art is called a portrait. A portrait is created to capture recognizable features and identity of the subject, so viewers can see who or what is being depicted. It can take many forms—paintings, drawings, photographs, or even sculptures—but the finished piece intended to show that subject is a portrait. The term portraiture refers to the broader practice of making portraits, not a single work. Sculpture and relief describe forms and methods of making art in three dimensions, and while a sculpture can be a portrait, those terms point to form rather than the specific idea of depicting a subject’s likeness.