Man, Drawing or Writing 1886

Vincent van Gogh created this drawing on paper, depicting a man engaged in drawing or writing. Notice how the figure is hunched over, head in hand. This gesture, a universal symbol of introspection, has deep roots in the visual arts. We see it echoed in depictions of melancholy figures throughout history—from Dürer’s Melancholia I to countless images of thinkers lost in thought. The pose speaks to a profound sense of contemplation, grief, or creative struggle. In the context of Van Gogh's life, marked by periods of intense emotional and mental turmoil, this motif becomes particularly poignant. The act of writing or drawing itself carries symbolic weight, representing the human desire to make sense of our experiences, to leave a mark on the world. This simple sketch becomes a mirror reflecting our own inner lives, our struggles, and our search for meaning. It reveals how gestures loaded with cultural memory engage viewers on a deep, subconscious level.