More Than a Pretty Face: The Power of Portraits

Portraiture as an art form has been in existence for at least five millennia. A portrait conveys not only its subject’s physical characteristics, but may also reveal key aspects of an individual’s personal psychology, as well as unique insights into disparate social, cultural, and political histories. The National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution outlines ten elements to analyze while viewing portraits. Using portraits from the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts’ permanent collection, Dr. Jim Carter will explore these elements, illustrating the variety of artistic styles, media, and genres found in portraiture.

Dr. Carter is a retired physician who had a clinical practice of Internal Medicine in Kalamazoo for thirty-six years, also serving as an Associate Professor for MSU-CHM and Program Director of Internal Medicine for MSU-KCMS. He has been involved with the KIA for more than four decades as a photography student, board member, board president, and docent, leading numerous tours for KIA visitors and presenting ARTbreaks on a wide range of topics.