Zittende man in tuinstoel 1871 - 1906

Pieter de Josselin de Jong rendered this watercolor drawing with ink, depicting a seated man in a garden chair. Observe the figure's introspective pose, head bowed, hands clasped. This posture echoes across millennia, from ancient sculptures of melancholic gods to Rodin's "Thinker." It is the very embodiment of contemplation and introspection. The shadows enveloping the man amplify the sense of solitude. The garden setting, typically a symbol of tranquility, here becomes a stage for inner turmoil. This juxtaposition is reminiscent of the Renaissance motif of the "melancholic genius," where isolation fuels creativity, and in this way it connects to the Romantic era's glorification of emotions and individualism. Thus, the image evokes a powerful, subconscious understanding of human introspection and isolation. The emotional weight it carries resonates deeply, echoing the timeless human condition across cultures.