truyền thần
Definition
Noun:
- Portrait painting (from life or a photograph): The art or act of creating a lifelike portrait of a person, traditionally by observing the subject directly or by working from a photograph. The term emphasizes capturing the subject's likeness and spirit.
- A portraitist / portrait painter: A person whose profession is to paint portraits.
Verb (less common):
- To paint a portrait: To execute the act of portrait painting.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ông cụ là một nghệ nhân truyền thần nổi tiếng. (The old man is a famous portrait painter.)
- Bức tranh này là một tác phẩm truyền thần rất đẹp. (This painting is a very beautiful portrait.)
- Verb:
- Họa sĩ đang truyền thần cho vị khách quý. (The artist is painting a portrait of the distinguished guest.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "truyền thần" carries a classical or traditional nuance, often associated with meticulous, realistic portrait techniques in ink or paint, as opposed to modern digital or photographic portraits. It implies a skillful transfer of the subject's essence ("thần") onto paper or canvas.
Variants and Related Words
- Thợ truyền thần (n): A portrait artisan or portraitist.
- Tìm một thợ truyền thần giỏi ở Hà Nội. (Find a skilled portraitist in Hanoi.)
- Vẽ truyền thần (v phrase): To paint/draw a portrait.
- Anh ấy nhận vẽ truyền thần theo ảnh. (He accepts commissions to paint portraits from photographs.)
Synonyms
- Portraiture: The art or practice of making portraits.
- Portrait painting: The act of creating a portrait with paint.
- Likeness: A representation, especially a portrait, that resembles the subject.
Related Idioms
- While not a common idiom, the phrase "truyền thần" itself is somewhat idiomatic, literally meaning "to transmit the spirit," highlighting the artistic goal of capturing not just physical appearance but also character.