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To me, it seems figures in "portraits" more often are engaging the viewer, where figures in figuratives are engaging other figures, their environment, or maybe their own thoughts. Although, many portraits do have a sitter who is not looking directly at the viewer and is engaging in his, or her own thoughts, or some other far away place. In these types of pictures, however, if the emphasis, or focal point, is specifically on the face, and there is no obvious narrative, I would call it a portrait - for example "Madame X."
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