Vrouw, op de rug gezien c. 1886 - 1903

This sketch of a woman, seen from the back, was drawn by George Hendrik Breitner. What strikes me here is the recurring motif of the turned back. Throughout art history, this pose often speaks to a sense of contemplation or even estrangement. Consider, for instance, Caspar David Friedrich’s Rückenfigur, figures seen from behind, often gazing at landscapes that evoke a sense of the sublime. This pose invites viewers to project their own emotions and thoughts onto the subject. Here, the turned back conceals as much as it reveals, inviting a moment of introspective engagement that resonates across centuries and cultures. It’s a timeless echo, reminding us of the cyclical nature of human experience and artistic expression.