Femme de dos 1895 - 1905

Frédéric Houbron sketched 'Femme de dos' with delicate lines. The woman's averted gaze and vulnerable posture invites introspection, reminiscent of classical figures of contemplation. This 'figure seen from behind' echoes in art across time, from Caspar David Friedrich's solitary wanderers to more contemporary portraits. Such Rückenfiguren, as the Germans call them, are not mere physical representations; they are symbolic thresholds. This evokes a sense of empathy as the viewer is positioned to contemplate the world through her eyes. The gesture of the outstretched arm is present in countless variations. Here, this conveys a feeling of longing. In this simple drawing, the artist engages our collective memory, revealing how deeply ingrained certain gestures and compositions are in our subconscious.