The Welcoming Hands 

Louise Bourgeois created “The Welcoming Hands,” a sculpture of bronze hands resting on stone. The hands, tenderly posed, evoke gestures of support, connection, and care. Consider the ancient motif of clasped hands, or "dextrarum iunctio," seen on Roman funerary monuments. It symbolized marital harmony and eternal bonds. Bourgeois takes this motif and imbues it with a deeply personal and universal feeling, extending beyond romantic love to encompass familial and communal support. In the hands of a healer, we can recall the laying on of hands. This gesture has been used for centuries to heal the sick. It signifies a direct transfer of energy or comfort. This symbolic act may trigger subconscious memories of safety and healing. "The Welcoming Hands" embodies a timeless human need for connection and empathy. The image resurfaces through history, reminding us of the power of human touch.