Straszliwa chęć uwiecznienia, czyli o sztuce portretowej w kontekście opowiadania Gustawa Herlinga-Grudzińskiego Portret wenecki

In his short story Venice Portrait Gustaw Herling-Grudziński ponders over portrait art of Lorenzo Lotto whom he regards as the creator of psychological portrait in painting. Not only does he mention genuine paintings of Lotto, but he also manages to apply elements of an iconographic code in a work of literature and to create an illusion of a non-existent painting. The Polish word "portret" and the Italian word "ritratto" is derived from the Latin verb "trahere" which signifies activities connected with extracting or retrieving. But it may also mean "to leave a trace", "continue", "survive". Therefore, portrait art is also an attempt at overcoming time, perpetuating the reality.