Hands 1885

Editor: We’re looking at “Hands,” an 1885 drawing by Vincent van Gogh, currently held at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. There’s such an arresting quality to the sketch-like representation. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: The prevalence of hands—the many ways a hand may exist! It’s hard not to see a political dimension when one looks at how Van Gogh returns, obsessively it seems, to working hands and their expressiveness, particularly at a time of growing socialist consciousness. The dignity, but also the labor implied, raises complex questions about social class. Don't you think? Editor: Absolutely. Especially next to the figure using the pickaxe at the bottom; its a very strong, direct correlation of hard work and toil. Are there other factors to be taken into consideration to interpret these concepts? Curator: Well, think about what it meant to depict labor at this historical juncture, the power relations being expressed and questioned through art and political action. These images of labour often functioned as both observation and perhaps even propaganda. We could also investigate how this contrasts with the common themes used to create images of hands through Western art history, no? Editor: I see. By contrasting these depictions with traditional art, Van Gogh elevated the working class and humanized their daily struggles. The raw, sketch-like approach feels very intentional in communicating truth, which brings us closer to their humanity. Curator: Precisely. Van Gogh encourages us to examine not only what is represented but also how it is represented. These drawings act as a form of social commentary, drawing attention to the oft-unseen individuals. Editor: I see now a deeper intention for "Hands". Thank you for bringing these things to light. Curator: It's a two-way street! These works remind us of the artist's power and responsibility in portraying the lives of marginalized communities.