Portrait Drawings of Masculine Types and Archetypes

FJÆS is a series of improvised ink drawings made directly on glossy photographic paper during the late summer of 2020. Each drawing was completed in just a few minutes, without preliminary sketches or corrections, as an immediate study of character, identity and expression.

“To my surprise, artists, thieves, generals and rogues emerged from the tip of my brush pen …”

Over the course of the project, several hundred drawings were produced, from which this series presents a selection of the strongest works. The drawings portray masculine types and archetypes—artists, thieves, generals, performers, old-timers, upstarts, rogues and other men. They draw inspiration from historical press photography, engravings, comic strips and classic puppet films.

A fjæs is more than a face. It is an expression of who we are, who we believe ourselves to be, and how we are perceived by others. These drawings do not portray specific individuals, but characters we recognise, identify with or distance ourselves from. They explore masculine types, archetypes and stereotypes, inviting the viewer to reflect on the roles we admire, reject or unconsciously adopt.

“A fjæs is more than a face—it reflects who we are, who we think we are and how others see us”