Prøveblad. 17 hoveder 1834 - 1866

Niels Simonsen created this etching, “Prøveblad. 17 hoveder” or "Proof Sheet. 17 Heads," at an unknown date. The image presents a collection of male head studies, each distinct in appearance and expression, inviting us to consider the social and cultural contexts that inform such diverse representations of masculinity. Made in Denmark, this etching reflects the 19th-century European interest in physiognomy, the belief that one could discern character from facial features. The composition echoes the period’s fascination with categorizing and understanding human diversity, influenced by colonial encounters and the rise of scientific racism. The presence of various ethnic or "racial" types invites scrutiny of the power dynamics inherent in such representations. Were these studies part of a larger project to classify and hierarchize people based on appearance? To understand this work fully, one must examine Simonsen’s career, the art institutions of his time, and the broader cultural discourses about identity and difference. By consulting period publications and institutional records, we can better grasp the social meanings embedded in this intriguing collection of heads.