Russian graphic artist Viktor Melamed, widely known for his work for leading Russian and international newspapers and magazines—The Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, and others—shares his thoughts on the art of portraiture, past and present, in high and popular culture, in painting and illustration. Approaching portraiture from a practical perspective and peeling back the curtain on the artist's creative process, he subtly raises the bar and invites us to consider how the human image is formed and perceived. This lends depth to his book, making it valuable for both aspiring and practicing artists, as well as anyone interested in the psychology of art and perception.