From the ancient Egyptian royals emblazoned on tombs to 18th century head-of-households with straight faces and stiff collars on canvas, portraiture is one of the oldest forms of artistry. Serving as a declaration of status and record of history, it was typically reserved for the likes of a princess, a monk, or an eldest son. Oh how things have changed…
If you’re a member of an online social network, you’ve probably already noticed a new crop of portraits on display. Yes, we’re talking about the near-perfect animated versions of your friends—the few early adapters who’ve picked up the trend. An old idea with a new twist, these tiny digital portraits still stand for “status.” It’s just now the Facebook variety, which usually accompanies daily updates on anything from workplace shenanigans to announcing the birth of your first child.
The demand for these portraits became clear to Brooklyn artist and stay-at-home-dad Matt Held when he formed the group “I’ll have my Facebook portrait painted by Matt Held” on a whim in November 2008. Held’s group has since amassed 11,000 followers and he’s completed 72 portraits. After selecting a member’s photo (basically whatever catches his eye), he recreates it on canvas, sends the member a free jpeg, and gives him or her the option to purchase the painting for about $1,800.
Sift through his six virtual pages of portraits posted in his online gallery and you’ll quickly see that the quirky trumps the stuffy for Held, who has cast everything from a guy wearing a bunny suit to group paintings modeled after old famous works. Elizabeth Mansfield, PhD, an associate professor of art history at New York University, gets the growing mass appeal. “We represent ourselves so easily now that we don’t have to commit to a single identity,” Mansfield says. Beyond just a fun memento, these funky images may just make their way into museums someday. “They’re a document of our age,” she adds.
[Images courtesy of Matt Held]
Published on March 5, 2010
While there are many sites today dedicated to the pursuit of fashion and style, here at MRK Style we approach these subjects through a collector’s lens. Through exploring how people relate to Art, Family, Fashion, Food, Film and Travel—essentially life’s various, everyday obsessions—we reflect on how we all live with the things we love. 
Try Facebook application
Try iPhone application