Portrait of Mme. Lisle and Mme Loubens 1866 - 1870

Edgar Degas captured these two women with oil on canvas, immortalizing their likeness and perhaps a glimpse into their inner states. Notice the hands—one woman clasped, almost defensively, the other folded across her chest, a gesture of self-containment or perhaps defiance. Throughout art history, clasped hands often symbolize restraint or piety. But in this modern context, could it suggest anxiety or unease? This motif echoes across centuries, appearing in funerary sculptures to Renaissance portraits, each time carrying nuances of emotion, shaped by its cultural moment. The psychological weight of these gestures is powerful, isn't it? Degas, like many artists, taps into a collective memory, a subconscious understanding we all share. The hands, the posture—they speak volumes, engaging us on a deep, almost primal level. A symbol is never static; it evolves, resurfaces, and is constantly reinterpreted across time.