Rückenfigur

The Rückenfigur, or figure seen from behind, is a subject of painting, graphic art, photography and film. In it, a person is seen from behind in the foreground of the image, contemplating the view before them, and is a means by which the viewer can identify with the image-looking figure and then recreate the space to be conveyed. The Rückenfigur motif dates back to antiquity and has since been employed in many different eras and styles of art. The German Romantic artist Caspar David Friedrich frequently used Rückenfiguren in the foreground of his painted landscapes.