Rückenfigur

A famous example of the Rückenfigur motif: Caspar David Friedrich's Der Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer, 1818

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.