Portræt af P. A. Heiberg 1868

Vilhelm Kyhn created this portrait of P. A. Heiberg using engraving techniques. The tight composition centres the viewer's attention on Heiberg's head and shoulders, rendered with meticulous detail through fine, cross-hatched lines that define form and texture. Kyhn’s emphasis on line and form suggests an interest in Neoclassical ideals, prioritizing clarity and precision. The texture achieved through engraving creates a tactile quality, contrasting with the smooth, idealized face of the subject. The portrait also suggests a semiotic system, in which the subject’s features and the artist's technique function as signs that communicate intellectualism. Kyhn's work is not just a representation, but an interpretation of character, inviting ongoing interpretation.