The Irritating Gentleman is based on an 1874 oil painting by German artist Berthold Woltze, originally titled 'Der lästige Kavalier.' It depicts a young woman in mourning attire traveling by train, looking visibly distressed or annoyed as a man leans into her personal space to offer unwanted conversation. The painting became a viral sensation as a meme template because it perfectly captures the timeless feeling of being trapped in an awkward or harassing social encounter. It is most commonly used to represent 'mansplaining,' persistent salespeople, or any situation where one person is being an absolute nuisance to someone who just wants to be left alone.