Studie van twee vlak liggende handen 1610 - 1641

Anthony van Dyck made this study of two hands with black chalk, heightened with white, on grey paper. Van Dyck, a Flemish artist working in the first half of the 17th century, was principal painter to the English court. This drawing offers a glimpse into the artist's process. Hands were important visual indicators of class and status, and mastering their depiction was essential for portrait painters. Notice how Van Dyck uses light and shadow to give the hands volume. The cuffs add a touch of elegance and refinement. These are the hands of a privileged person, someone who didn't perform manual labor. Van Dyck likely made this study in preparation for a portrait. To better understand Van Dyck's world, we can look at letters, diaries, and other documents that describe the social hierarchies of 17th-century Europe. Art, after all, exists within a specific social and institutional context.