What's The 'Sitting Wolf' Meme? The Emo Werewolf Sitting Against A Tree Explained

The Sitting Wolf meme has become one of the most iconic "pics that go hard," depicting a werewolf sitting against a tree, looking out over a rough ocean, seemingly contemplating his existence.

The wolf sitting is not only a reaction image but also a source of literally me syndrome, causing many internet users to say, "He's literally me," or "I'm him." Despite appearing to be a simple meme, this wolf has an interesting history that evolved from the Spanish web to the broader internet.

So, what is the Sitting Wolf meme? Where did it come from and why is it so popular? Let's explain.

What's The Original 'Sitting Wolf' Image?

The original image of the Sitting Wolf was created by a DeviantArt user named WolfRoad. The artist published the artwork to the site in April 2015. It was originally titled "Voices."

WolfRoad is responsible for almost all Sitting Wolf-adjacent reaction images, including the "wolf riding a motorcycle" image. Unfortunately, a different artist created the famous wolf ripping shirt artwork.

What's The Original 'Sitting Wolf' Meme?

The Sitting Wolf image was first used in memetic content on the Spanish-speaking internet as a part of the "lobos con frases" trend. "Lobos con frases" translates to "wolves with phrases" and the trend involved satirical inspirational photo quotes with wolf image macros.

The Sitting Wolf image became a part of the trend in early 2022, when a Facebook page called Furry Fandom added text to the image that translates to, "Looking at a window is like looking at a wall. Only instead of a wall, it's a window."

Why Is The 'Sitting Wolf' Meme So Popular?

The Sitting Wolf meme is still popular today because English-speaking internet users picked up the trend in mid-2022. A series of viral tweets cemented the image's usage in American meme culture.

Thereafter, it became a notable reaction image that was used to portray romantic loneliness and solitude which (of course) is a headspace that many can relate to. There's just something about the wolf's energy that screams "He's literally me."

For the full history of Sitting Wolf, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.