![Painting, Nu au Fauteuil, Philippe Pasqua](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1414326_1_grid.jpg)
Somber Portrait Painters
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![Painting, Nu au Fauteuil, Philippe Pasqua](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1414326_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Looking Down On You, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1054179_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Anne, Philippe Pasqua](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1953366_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Surface, Bill Bate](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/22445_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Elements & Senses, Bill Bate](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1451247_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Horizon Light, Bill Bate](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1451238_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Golden Glow, Bill Bate](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1350699_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Agonia, Juan Sebastian Barbera](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/369774_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Tout continue, Alice Laverty](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1264935_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Les corps émotifs #1, Alice Laverty](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1217937_1_grid.jpg)
Les corps émotifs #1
Alice Laverty
Painting - 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,342
![Painting, Les corps émotifs #2, Alice Laverty](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1217892_1_grid.jpg)
Les corps émotifs #2
Alice Laverty
Painting - 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,342
![Print, Compassion, Juan Sebastian Barbera](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/109510_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Clandestina, Juan Sebastian Barbera](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/109501_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Conspiracion, Juan Sebastian Barbera](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/109486_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, La commission, Juan Sebastian Barbera](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/109471_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Rabbit, Benjamin Carbonne](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1031121_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Le poignard, Benjamin Carbonne](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1031097_1_grid.jpg)
![Fine Art Drawings, Etude pour une allégorie de la justice, Ernest Pignon-Ernest](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1807221_1_grid.jpg)
Etude pour une allégorie de la justice
Ernest Pignon-Ernest
Fine Art Drawings - 101 x 64 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.8 x 25.2 inch
$33,540
![Painting, Unleash me, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1616319_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, A Blue Space, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1054185_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, A Castrated Existence, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1054167_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, A Tender Shell, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1054161_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Brown Love, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1054155_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Poetic Green, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1054152_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, A Curious Body, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1054149_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Naked Soul, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1054146_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, A suffocating Presence, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1054137_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Untitled, Maria Carbonero](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1517025_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Les Corps Emotifs #4, Alice Laverty](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1264890_1_grid.jpg)
Les Corps Emotifs #4
Alice Laverty
Painting - 60 x 50 x 1 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$1,342
![Painting, Apparition #1, Alice Laverty](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1202400_1_grid.jpg)
![Fine Art Drawings, Parcours Desnos, Louise Lame, étude 2, Ernest Pignon-Ernest](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1662009_1_grid.jpg)
Parcours Desnos, Louise Lame, étude 2
Ernest Pignon-Ernest
Fine Art Drawings - 45 x 31 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.7 x 12.2 inch
$22,360
![Fine Art Drawings, Anvers, Ernest Pignon-Ernest](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1336218_1_grid.jpg)
Anvers
Ernest Pignon-Ernest
Fine Art Drawings - 63 x 38 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24.8 x 15 inch
$22,360
![Painting, Turmoil, Bill Bate](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/411901_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Calm Blue, Bill Bate](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1451277_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Fusion, Bill Bate](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1451265_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Nu, Philippe Pasqua](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/36830_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Le Penseur, Clement Garnung](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1598694_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Bagaya, Yoann Merienne](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2139900_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, A sketchy sensation, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2090871_1_grid.jpg)
A sketchy sensation
Dzovig Arnelian
Painting - 77 x 77 x 0.5 cm Painting - 30.3 x 30.3 x 0.2 inch
$985
![Painting, Reclining figure, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1905069_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, A nude figure, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1766679_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, The Lebanese Mona Lisa, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1765947_1_grid.jpg)
The Lebanese Mona Lisa
Dzovig Arnelian
Painting - 100 x 75 x 0.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 29.5 x 0.2 inch
$680
![Photography, Autoportrait 4, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1614465_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Autoportrait 2, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1614459_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Autoportrait 1, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1614456_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Always on his mind, Mino Maccari](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1964058_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Seduction, Mino Maccari](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1964052_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Highway, Nathan Chantob](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1969230_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Cherry wine, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1909269_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Dripping femininity, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1783236_1_grid.jpg)
Dripping femininity
Dzovig Arnelian
Painting - 100 x 100 x 1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch
$636
![Painting, Aphrodite, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1758285_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Sleeping man, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1758003_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Autoportrait 3, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1614462_1_grid.jpg)
![Fine Art Drawings, Nudes, Mino Maccari](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2006124_1_grid.jpg)
Nudes
Mino Maccari
Fine Art Drawings - 17 x 23 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 6.7 x 9.1 x 0.1 inch
$537
![Print, Figures, Mino Maccari](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1964073_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Nudes, Mino Maccari](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1964070_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Figures, Mino Maccari](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1964055_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Exploration, Mino Maccari](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1964001_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Men and Women, Mino Maccari](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1963992_1_grid.jpg)
![Fine Art Drawings, Reading the Newspaper, Mino Maccari](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1139430_1_grid.jpg)
Reading the Newspaper
Mino Maccari
Fine Art Drawings - 19.5 x 27.4 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.7 x 10.8 x 0 inch
$425
![Painting, A la vie à la mort, Cécile Desserle](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1970214_1_grid.jpg)
A la vie à la mort
Cécile Desserle
Painting - 120 x 120 x 3 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch
$5,255
![Painting, Before dusk sets in, Melinda Matyas](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2096892_1_grid.jpg)
Before dusk sets in
Melinda Matyas
Painting - 60 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch
$3,913
![Painting, Breast print 16, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2006808_1_grid.jpg)
Breast print 16
Dzovig Arnelian
Painting - 17.5 x 18.5 x 0.3 cm Painting - 6.9 x 7.3 x 0.1 inch
$250
![Painting, Breast print 15, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2006805_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Breast print 14, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2006802_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Breast print 13, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2006799_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Breast print 12, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2006796_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Breast print 9, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2006787_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Breast print 7, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2004129_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Silk road souvenir, Melinda Matyas](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1800285_1_grid.jpg)
Silk road souvenir
Melinda Matyas
Painting - 60 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch
$3,689
![Photography, My stagnant self, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1785360_1_grid.jpg)
My stagnant self
Dzovig Arnelian
Photography - 40 x 44 x 0.5 cm Photography - 15.7 x 17.3 x 0.2 inch
$250
![Print, Intropection 2, Sancko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/991059_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, The silence of animals (framed), Melinda Matyas](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/629544_1_grid.jpg)
The silence of animals (framed)
Melinda Matyas
Painting - 80 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch
$5,814
![Painting, Sacred profane dichotomy (diptych), Melinda Matyas](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/615492_1_grid.jpg)
Sacred profane dichotomy (diptych)
Melinda Matyas
Painting - 80 x 120 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch
$5,031
![Painting, Lorelei, Melinda Matyas](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/600663_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Looking down on you 2, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1434615_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, I've shaken off the dust of the lands, Melinda Matyas](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/945411_1_grid.jpg)
I've shaken off the dust of the lands
Melinda Matyas
Painting - 90 x 90 x 2 cm Painting - 35.4 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch
$6,484
![Fine Art Drawings, Portrait, Eugene Berman](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1355334_1_grid.jpg)
Portrait
Eugene Berman
Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 18 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.4 x 7.1 x 0 inch
$503
![Painting, Faces and Places, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1823562_1_grid.jpg)
Faces and Places
Dzovig Arnelian
Painting - 114 x 110 x 0.5 cm Painting - 44.9 x 43.3 x 0.2 inch
$3,600
![Painting, Sweet Dreams, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1290195_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, I had a dream, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1200000_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Sleeping Beauty, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1054209_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Enigmatic Desire, Dzovig Arnelian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1054176_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Rising sun, kingdom of lead, Melinda Matyas](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/844314_1_grid.jpg)
Rising sun, kingdom of lead
Melinda Matyas
Painting - 91 x 122 x 2 cm Painting - 35.8 x 48 x 0.8 inch
$7,267
![Fine Art Drawings, Les Clés, Nicolas Carréga](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1309593_1_grid.jpg)
Les Clés
Nicolas Carréga
Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 23.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.4 x 9.3 inch
$447
![Print, Femme 2, Manuella Ferré](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1449096_1_grid.jpg)
![Fine Art Drawings, Femme 1, Roger Decaux](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1406922_1_grid.jpg)
Femme 1
Roger Decaux
Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 70 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0 inch
$4,472
![Print, Introspection 3, Sancko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1009335_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Coppélia, Lou Andréas Salomé Tauss](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1553679_1_grid.jpg)
Coppélia
Lou Andréas Salomé Tauss
Painting - 60 x 30 x 1.8 cm Painting - 23.6 x 11.8 x 0.7 inch
$391
![Sculpture, One second and seventy six milliseconds, Krikor Avessian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1143243_1_grid.jpg)
One second and seventy six milliseconds
Krikor Avessian
Sculpture - 81.7 x 41.5 x 36 cm Sculpture - 32.2 x 16.3 x 14.2 inch
$5,640
![Print, Résilience, Sancko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/678921_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Metoo, Sancko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/448773_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Dark swan, Sancko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/448761_1_grid.jpg)
Somber Portrait Painters
Sadness, melancholy and gloom have found an outlet in artists throughout history and in the depiction of figurative art. Through artists, humanity and their emotional and physical states are portrayed to be viewed and related to. The instant recognition of such a grave subject also plagues human history itself, thus carving out its own rightful spot amongst the history of art movements. In Edgar Degas' 1875 painting L'Absinthe, where viewers see a portrait of a young woman solemnly contemplating her situation, disengaged from their gaze, her surroundings, maybe even from herself.
Dark hues and colors define somber portrait painting and can highlight the cause of such sadness, whether that be the subject's emotional state or a greater rendering of the world's expanse and the human existence within it. Existential or not, the traits of somber artwork can be found in our own collection of portraits on Artsper. The portraiture work of Nicolas Fropo de Habart works the body in all its dimensions to create an absolute feeling of vastness while Antoine Stevens also depicts wandering souls in his dimmed portraiture. But given the nature of humanity, somber depictions of the figure are not entirely unexpected…