There he would stand, his back turned to us like the contemplative artist figure in a painting by Caspar David Friedrich, and reflect on the glory and folly of mankind.
He stood, facing away from us, as an allegory for all people.
mnli hypothesis: He stood, facing away from us, as an allegory for all people. premise: There he would stand, his back turned to us like the contemplative artist figure in a painting by Caspar David Friedrich, and reflect on the glory and folly of mankind.