Print from Drawing Book c. 1610 - 1620

This print from a drawing book was made by Luca Ciamberlano in the 17th century. Immediately, one notes the composition: a series of hands, each engaged in a distinct activity, stacked vertically in the frame. The artist uses line and shadow to create texture and volume, drawing the eye through the composition, with our gaze shifting from the clasped hands at the top, down to the hands playing the keyboard, and finally to the hands exchanging currency. The linear quality of the print emphasizes the stark contrast between light and dark. This formal choice invites us to consider the semiotics of gesture and exchange prevalent in the 17th century. The hands not only perform actions but also signify social relations. Ciamberlano seems to explore the symbolic weight of these interactions, perhaps commenting on the emerging economic systems and social contracts of his time. Note how the formal arrangement of the hands mirrors a kind of social hierarchy. This challenges us to decode the underlying structures of power and value within the image. Such a formal quality functions not just aesthetically but also as part of a larger cultural and philosophical discourse.