本文通过对比来自美洲、希腊、罗马、非洲、中国和日本等古代不同文化传统案例,指出不同的社会分层情况与写实性肖像画有着紧密的联系。在等级制度社会,写实性肖像画对于等级具有破坏和颠覆性而因此受到抑制,因而人们常常见到图像志而非写实性肖像。阶层开放的社会似乎更允许写实性描绘,写实肖像画更有可能获得发展甚至达到兴盛。 By comparing the ancient cases of different cultures from the Americas, Greece, Rome, Africa, China and Japan, this article points out that different stratification of society has close ties with realistic portraits. In a hierarchical society, realistic portraits are suppressed to the extent that the hierarchy is destructive and disruptive, and as a result people often see images rather than portraits. Societies that are open to the community seem to allow more portrayals of realism, and realistic portraits are more likely to be developed or even prosperous.