Handen 1710 - 1772

Petrus Johannes van Reysschoot's sketch, "Handen," presents us with a timeless study of human hands, rendered with delicate lines. The hands, symbols of creation, action, and connection, dominate the composition. Consider how the motif of hands has threaded its way through art history: from the hands of God bestowing life upon Adam in Michelangelo's fresco, to hands clasped in prayer throughout Renaissance devotional art. Here, the hands, though seemingly simple, echo those profound expressions of human experience. We see echoes of Leonardo’s studies of hands, or even Durer’s ‘Praying Hands’, each capturing a unique facet of human expression. The subtle variations in gesture and form tell us more than words ever could about the human condition. The image has a psychological depth, tapping into our collective memory of touch, gesture, and connection. It reminds us that symbols are not static. Like the ever-changing currents of a river, these symbolic forms resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings across time.