This is a small portion of the entire piece, but I decided to upload a cropped progress version because I really like the way the statues came out and they are a little lost in the entirety of the image.
I love the larger piece, but this is my favourite element, so it's great to see it up close. I think everyone will have their own interpretations of what they're seeing. For me it conjures up the idea of a group travelling through a dangerous place in a sort of post-apocalyptic world, and the man is watching on, letting the woman and child have a carefree moment. He's distanced and standing guard, but part of him is feeling joy at seeing some innocence in the world again again.
I actually your comment in mind when finishing the final version and gave them a little more of a "misty" look as my orginal intention was to be statues.
I love the atmosphere!