Roman Košťál - Rückenfigur

Here we see a solitary figure standing in the darkness of Plato’s cave, surrounded by shadows. The Rodin-esque, sinuous figure is captured in a moment of introspection, while Koštál employs the concept of the Rückenfigur (a figure seen from behind) to allow the viewer to imagine themselves in the painting—much like in Caspar David Friedrich’s Wanderer above the Sea of Fog.