Does every portrait tell a story? The origins of the English word "portrait" trace back to the French portraire, which comes from the phrase trait pour trait, meaning "line by line," describing the process of creating a likeness. The French term, in turn, finds its roots in the Latin portrahere, a combination of por- (forward) and trahere (to draw or pull), signifying "to draw forth" or "to bring forward." This emphasizes the artist's role in bringing the subject to life. Over time, the term has traveled across languages, picking up unique nuances along the way.

In Armenian, the word for "portrait" is դիմանկար (dimankar), formed by combining դեմք (demk), meaning "face," with նկար (nkar), meaning "picture" or "painting." The term դեմք (demk) is related to դիմաց (dimats), meaning "in front of" or "facing," and shares a connection with the verb դիտել (ditel), meaning "to watch" or "to observe." This verb, in turn, is related to the Latin videre, meaning "to see," and the Sanskrit ध्येयति (dhyāyati), meaning "to meditate" or "to contemplate." The root dhi- conveys the idea of focusing the attention inward.

In this way, a portrait not only reveals insights into the person depicted and the artist behind it but also offers an opportunity for self-reflection. This concept is visually explored in Armenian Portraits, inviting reflection on the interconnectedness between the portrait, the artist, and the viewer.