Illustrate an unsettling, humanoid figure with grotesque features in the distinctive style of Edward Gorey. Use intricate cross-hatching to emphasize the character’s textured skin, scar-like patterns, and exaggerated appendages. The shading should provide a sense of depth and volume, as if the figure is emerging from the shadows. Its pose should feel strangely stiff yet expressive, evoking both menace and melancholy. Design the character with a peculiar, emotionless expression that invites ambiguity. Incorporate elements of 19th-century fashion--perhaps a tattered belt or ornamental armband--blended into the creature’s organic and decaying form to heighten the surrealism. Keep the background minimal, using a flat plane or a few subtle lines to suggest space without defining it. Introduce a small symbolic object, such as a shattered hourglass clutched in one hand or a tiny bird perched on the creature’s shoulder, to hint at a deeper narrative about time or loss. Render the image in black ink, relying heavily on cross-hatching and stippling techniques to create complex textures and subtle gradients. The finished piece should evoke a feeling of quiet unease, balancing whimsy and horror, just as Gorey’s art often does.