Studieblad af to hænder, der holder om et tov 1769

J.F. Clemens made this study of hands holding a rope using engraving techniques sometime between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. At this time, academies across Europe placed emphasis on the mastery of the human form. This wasn't just about skill, but reflected a wider cultural belief in human reason and potential, inherited from the Renaissance. Clemens was a printmaker, and prints like these served an important function as models for students, who were instructed to copy them. But this image of labour also speaks to Denmark's economic reliance on maritime trade. Ropes were crucial for sailing and shipping. It would be interesting to research whether Clemens produced similar studies of other trades crucial to the Danish economy. By studying the art of the past, alongside its social and economic context, we can better understand how art both reflects and shapes the values of its time.