The adjective "representation" mean "serving to represent, figure,portray or symbolize." During the fifteenth century, the verb "represent" expands to mean also "to portray,depict,or delineate." It comes to be applied to inanimate objects which "stand in the place of or correspond to" something or someone. And it means "to produce a play," apparently a sort of depicting on the stage. At the same time, the noun "representation" appears, meaning "image,likeness, or picture.