Approaching Figure 1961

Harold Altman created this drawing, titled 'Approaching Figure', using delicate strokes. Here, we are confronted with the motif of the Rückenfigur—the figure seen from the back—that echoes through art history. Think of Caspar David Friedrich's solitary wanderers, poised on a precipice, contemplating the sublime. But here, Altman offers us something more intimate. Our figure strides toward a group, a silent invitation to join a community, or perhaps, a confrontation with the self. This motif of approach has resonated throughout history, from ancient Roman reliefs depicting processions to Renaissance paintings of encounters. The very act of approaching embodies hope, anticipation, and sometimes, anxiety. The figure’s back turned to us, a deliberate exclusion, invites us to project our own emotions. The gesture is a blank canvas, a reflection of our own longing for connection or fear of the unknown. Altman masterfully taps into our collective memory, reminding us that even in solitude, we are forever bound to others.