Karikatur af en tykmavet mand, stående i profil til venstre 1743 - 1809

This caricature of a stout man was created by Nicolai Abildgaard, using pen and brown ink with grey wash. Notice how Abildgaard exaggerates the figure’s form, bending the lines of his coat and hat, to amplify the curvature of the man’s belly. This emphasis on the body’s roundness invites us to read the figure as a symbol—perhaps of indulgence or excess. Abildgaard's technique, characterized by swift, assured strokes, serves not merely to represent but also to interpret. The man’s posture, combined with the stark simplicity of the sepia tones, suggests a critique of social types. The artist seems to be playing with established notions of body image and social status. Consider how the very form of the caricature challenges conventional representation, pushing us to question the values and norms that define beauty and worth. It’s an open invitation to reconsider how we look, and what we see.