Vrouw, op de rug gezien 1867 - 1923

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch of a woman from behind with charcoal on paper. Observe the stark contrast between the woman's dark dress and her pale nape, creating a powerful focal point. This simple yet evocative rendering recalls countless depictions of women throughout art history, from classical sculptures to the Rückenfigur in Romantic painting, a motif where a figure is seen from behind, inviting viewers to project their own emotions and experiences onto the scene. The motif of the hidden face has deep roots in our collective psyche, evoking feelings of mystery, introspection, and longing. Think of Caspar David Friedrich's wanderers, forever gazing into the sublime distance, or the veiled figures in ancient funerary art, their identities obscured by the shroud of death. Like these predecessors, Breitner's woman engages us on a profound, subconscious level, prompting us to contemplate the ephemeral nature of existence. The motif of the unseen subject persists, evolving into new forms, yet carrying echoes of its past.