Portraits can pierce historical misrepresentation and reveal flawed human nature.

Evidence

It gives us a privileged view, as if we are with you in your chapel or writing closet: a way of looking that pierces the fog of misrepresentation, but allows us to see you with respect and in the light of the mercy we all need. Face to face, we can’t deny your flawed humanity. And if we admit to yours, why not ours? — Hilary Mantel, A Memoir of My Former Self- A Life in…, 1149

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: White artists routinely distorted Black features in pre-photographic portraits; Portraitists focus on surface details while subjects practice concealment. — Hilary Mantel, A Memoir of My Former Self- A Life in…, 1158; Physical details in portraits reveal a whole eloquent human biography. — Hilary Mantel, A Memoir of My Former Self- A Life in…, 1151 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• White artists routinely distorted Black features in pre-photographic portraits #exemplifies (0.85)
• Physical details in portraits reveal a whole eloquent human biography. #expands (0.80) — Hilary Mantel, A Memoir of My Former Self- A Life in…, 1151
• Portraitists focus on surface details while subjects practice concealment. #contradicts (0.75) — Hilary Mantel, A Memoir of My Former Self- A Life in…, 1158