Peter Andreas Heiberg 1831 - 1874

This print by J.C. Nielsen portrays Peter Andreas Heiberg; it is held at the Statens Museum for Kunst. The crisp lines and oval frame evoke the neoclassical style, popular across Europe in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. But let’s consider the political implications of this image, created in Denmark. Heiberg was a writer and intellectual, exiled for his radical political views. Prints like these played a crucial role in circulating images of political figures, effectively creating a public sphere. The choice of a neoclassical style, with its references to republican Rome, subtly aligns Heiberg with ideals of civic virtue and resistance to tyranny. Understanding this image requires us to delve into the history of censorship, political dissent, and the rise of print culture in Denmark. Museum archives, historical societies, and libraries are treasure troves for uncovering the stories behind such works, reminding us that art is always embedded in a web of social and political relations.