Genealogy of the Relation between Referent and Image in Portrait Studies

This paper involves discovering the problematics of the connection between the image and its referent in portrait studies. Some current approaches are considered as a part of such research able to propose interpretation of such connection. It includes a semiotic approach interpreting an image, having a referent, as an iconic symbol. Further, an image is considered as a representation. Representation is stated in the definitions of referent’s presence. Thus, representation allows to state a problem of presence. Furthermore, the Gumbrecht approach is deeply analyzed as defined in his work paper “Production of presence”. Analysis and further criticism of these approaches become the main point of the vector and criterias for development of alternative strategy, one describes the given connection. Development of descriptional strategy is the basic content of the paper. The given approach proposes to consider an image through the Latin definition vestigium (trace). In visual studies F. Neyrat has drawn his attention on this category. However, this paper is mainly focused on analysis of vestigium definition by Augustine, one of the main authors developing this category, wherefrom Neyrat takes it. As a part of this term analysis, there was stated a range of characteristics, allowing to avoid issues, being formulated as criticism of the concerned approaches. Moreover, this approach proposes a range of positive theses that could be applied to portraits... Among them, there is problematics of presence, contacting, alienation, likeness, etc. The work is mainly focused on how such topics are interpreted through the proposed approach.