The Artist's Hand II 1979

Here we have Henry Moore's 'The Artist's Hand II,' an etching which shows a pair of hands tenderly clasped together. Look at the chaotic yet controlled scribbles, the way they give volume and shadow to these hard-working hands! You know, there is something about the way these hands are drawn that evokes a sense of vulnerability and strength. I can imagine Henry Moore, the artist, looking at his own hands, thinking about all the things they have made, all the sculptures they have shaped. It reminds me a little of Rodin and his interest in the body. Perhaps Moore was thinking about Rodin's hands as he was making this print? Artists are always having this conversation with each other across time. Ultimately, this piece is about embracing ambiguity and uncertainty. The artist opens up a space of imagination where he isn't trying to tell you what to think or feel, but to share a moment of quiet contemplation. It is a conversation about making, a conversation about seeing.