Figuur, op de rug gezien c. 1886 - 1890

This quick pencil sketch of a figure seen from the back was made by George Hendrik Breitner. We can see the barest indication of the figure’s form, an outline only. In the ancient world, and in many cultures since, turning one’s back is an insult, a sign of rejection or disregard. Yet here, in the context of modernity, this symbolic meaning seems almost to retreat. Instead, we are left with a more ambiguous sense of the self, an emphasis on anonymity and perhaps alienation. Think of Caspar David Friedrich's Rückenfigur; here too, the back of the figure invites reflection on the human condition. But while Friedrich's figure is often placed in awe-inspiring landscapes, Breitner's figure exists in a more mundane setting. This simple gesture towards a figure turning away has traveled through time, echoing across different artistic landscapes. Here, it resurfaces as a question of how we, as viewers, engage with those around us, and how we find meaning in the fleeting moments of everyday life.