Siddende gammel mand. Fra "Stokken" i Hornbæk 1873 - 1874

Viggo Johansen sketched this seated old man with graphite on paper, capturing a quiet moment in Hornbæk. The most striking element is the old man's hands clasped in his lap, a gesture laden with a long history. We see this motif echoed across time, from ancient Roman sculptures to Renaissance portraits, where it often signifies contemplation or resignation. Consider Rodin's "Thinker"; the seated pose and hand-to-chin gesture invite us to consider humanity's weighty thoughts. In Viggo Johansen's sketch, the clasped hands may signify both introspection and a quiet acceptance of life's passage. This simple gesture connects us to a universal human experience, resonating with a collective memory of shared emotions. The pose invites us to consider the cyclical nature of human emotions, resurfacing and evolving across different eras. The psychological weight of such simple symbolism cannot be overstated.