- Definition
A portrait is a picture or artwork of a person. It can also refer to when a picture is taller than it is wide.
A school picture is a portrait because it's a photograph focused on a person.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A portrait is like taking a school photo, where the main subject is a person.
Ask your child: What would you want a portrait of you to show about who you are?
Common mix-up: Kids may think a portrait must be a realistic painting of just a face. A portrait can show a whole person and can be a drawing, photo, or even a sculpture.
Examples
- An artist drawing a picture of themself is making a self-portrait.
- Holding a phone upright to take a picture of someone creates a portrait orientation.
- A drawing of your whole family can also be a group portrait.
portrait is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
