Studieblad met tekenvoorbeelden: handen en portret van Hendrick Goltzius c. 1610 - 1672

Editor: This is "Studieblad met tekenvoorbeelden: handen en portret van Hendrick Goltzius," a drawing made with ink and pencil on paper, sometime between 1610 and 1672. What strikes me immediately is the focus on hands - it feels like a celebration of artistry, but also makes me wonder about the artist's intention. How do you interpret this sheet of studies? Curator: It's fascinating how you observe the focus on hands. Considering the period, the emphasis here also shines a light on the artist’s craft. Before photography, artists played a crucial role in visualizing society, disseminating knowledge and power, particularly in portraiture. The studies on this sheet almost break down the art making, and specifically how to depict. Editor: So it's like a peek behind the curtain, almost? It is interesting how, by focusing on the hands, we are actually encouraged to focus on *his* hand, the hand of the artist and maker. Curator: Precisely. Look at the small portrait included in the sheet, and consider how it ties into the artist representing other people's status. Who was Goltzius? Did he have a prominent public role? The mannerist style can emphasize the hand that can imply someone elevated social standing. The inclusion of hands actively *creating* with pens also gives a nod to his active role as an artisan. Editor: I didn’t immediately see that connection with the portrait - that really clarifies the artist’s interest in portraying the physical construction and social status through image making! Curator: Think about how this 'sketchbook page’ would have been consumed in its time and how artists used model books to disseminate stylistic choices and almost prototype various figure-poses. What does this work say about artistic influence and imitation during the Northern Renaissance? Editor: Now I’m thinking about the role of the artist, how their skill literally shapes perception and reflects society. I initially saw it as a sketch and it never occurred to me how the artist also communicated with society. Thanks for pointing that out!