Edward Beetham, bust in profile to right in an oval, with two caricature heads in small ovals in the upper corners 1770 - 1818

This etching of Edward Beetham by Isaac Jehner presents us with a stark silhouette encircled by caricature heads, inviting us to ponder the symbolism inherent in portraiture. The profile, a form dating back to antiquity, has always been about more than just likeness. Think of Roman coins, where the emperor's profile conveyed power and authority. Here, however, the surrounding caricatures undermine Beetham’s dignity, humorously reflecting societal perceptions. This recalls the medieval tradition of marginalia, where grotesque figures in illuminated manuscripts often commented on the main text. Consider the act of rendering a silhouette itself, a reduction to pure form. It's a symbolic act, stripping away the superficial to reveal what? Perhaps an essential truth, or perhaps just an empty void filled with societal projections. The emotional impact lies in this tension, a subconscious unease about the very nature of identity and representation. As we gaze upon Beetham's shadow, we confront our own fleeting existence, the echoes of cultural memory reverberating through time.