“How They Met Themselves” is a work created by Dante Gabriel Rossetti in 1864, utilizing the medium of Indian ink and pen. This artwork belongs to the Romanticism movement and is classified as a genre painting. It is housed in the Fitzwilliam Museum at the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, UK.
The artwork presents a scene deeply immersed in a forest setting, displaying a composition that suggests an encounter between two pairs of identical figures, evoking a sense of supernatural or psychological confrontation. The figures appear to be engaged in an intense, possibly startling interaction, with one pair depicted in an almost ethereal glow. The use of dark, rich colors and delicate, detailed line work reflects the Romantic ideals of heightened emotion and dramatic storytelling. The period attire and the forest background further enhance the otherworldly, mystical atmosphere of the encounter, making it a compelling depiction of a surreal, doppelgänger-themed narrative.
