Study of a hand 

Thomas Couture made this "Study of a Hand" during a time of significant social upheaval. The artwork presents an intimate glimpse into a specific moment, captured with graphite on paper. Couture, who lived through the rise and fall of French monarchies and republics, was deeply aware of the power dynamics inherent in representation. This drawing shows a hand with meticulous detail, bringing attention to its form and gesture, yet it stops short of revealing the person. Does the hand offer or does it take? The artist’s choice to focus on a hand is a study of identity - and the lack thereof - leaving us to ponder the narratives and histories the hand represents. In a time when the rise of Realism encouraged artists to examine everyday life, Couture seems to use the part to represent a whole, thus asking us to think about the place of the individual within the broader societal changes of his time.