L’écho 1883 - 1884

Georges Seurat captured this poignant charcoal drawing, L’écho. The figure's face is obscured by a hand, a gesture that resonates deeply across time. In antiquity, covering the face was a sign of mourning or deep introspection. Consider Hecuba veiling her face in despair, depicted on Greek vases; such gestures speak to our shared human experience of sorrow and grief. This act transcends mere representation. It is an embodiment of inward focus, reflecting a universal desire for privacy in moments of intense emotion. The covering of the face, psychologically, can be seen as a protection against the overwhelming gaze of the world, a retreat into one's inner self. This motif is not static. It continues to resurface, evolving and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.