Mandsportræt i profil mod venstre, set nedefra 1843

Johan Thomas Lundbye sketched this portrait in profile with graphite, capturing a man seen from below. The profile view, a symbol of power and authority, finds its roots in ancient coinage and royal portraiture. Consider the Roman emperors, their profiles immortalized on coins, projecting an image of strength and command. This motif reappears throughout history; Renaissance medals and neoclassical busts echo this same projection of nobility. It has even shifted into propaganda in more recent times. Here, the slightly raised chin and upward gaze add a layer of thoughtful contemplation. Such depictions, when viewed through a psychoanalytic lens, reveal how collective memory shapes our perception of authority. This potent symbol, enduring across ages, underscores the cyclical nature of power and its representation in art.