Group of Five Figures 

John Flaxman created this simple sketch of five figures with graphite on paper. Notice the bowed heads of the figures, a symbol of mourning and introspection deeply rooted in human expression. The motif echoes across time, appearing in ancient Greek funerary steles and Christian depictions of the Passion. Consider the Pietà, where Mary cradles the deceased Christ; the bowed head is a universal language of grief, connecting us to primal emotions. This gesture elicits empathy and shared sorrow, tapping into our collective unconscious. Throughout history, we see its resurgence in various cultural forms. Despite differing contexts, the bowed head retains its profound capacity to convey grief, humility, and reverence. It serves as a poignant reminder of the cyclical nature of human emotion and the enduring power of visual symbols.