To let karikerede mandshoveder i profil samt forneden et mandsportræt i profil mod venstre. 1840s

P.C. Skovgaard sketched these caricatured heads in profile, sometime in the mid-19th century. Look closely at the exaggerated features and how they reveal more than just physical appearance. The profile, a classical motif used since antiquity, allowed artists to capture a likeness while conveying power and status. This tradition is here turned on its head, the artist employs it for humor and social commentary, exaggerating features to expose character. The simple act of portraying someone in profile transforms into a mirror reflecting societal attitudes and perhaps personal biases. Consider the psychological weight of these portrayals: how does caricature tap into our subconscious biases and anxieties about appearance and social identity? Such images engage viewers on a deep level, evoking laughter, discomfort, and perhaps a critical awareness of our own prejudices. Through line and form, Skovgaard not only captures a likeness, but a moment in time where observation becomes commentary. These profiles, simple as they are, continue to provoke thought.