Pastelstudie til en udstrakt hånd 1790s

Jens Juel made this pastel study of an outstretched hand. The composition centres on the hand itself, rendered in delicate shades of pink and red, contrasted against a muted background. The open gesture invites the viewer into a space of anticipation. The sketch captures a fleeting moment, highlighting the hand's form and structure. Juel’s use of pastel allows for soft gradations of color and a subtle play of light and shadow, bringing attention to the musculature and bone structure beneath the skin. The surrounding lines, with their stark blacks and greys, create a semiotic system of contrast: they highlight the absence of fixed form against the defined lines of the hand, suggesting a larger, unseen body. Consider how the open hand functions as a sign, hinting at concepts of offering, vulnerability, and connection. Through the use of colour and shadow, Juel’s study examines the boundaries between definition and ambiguity, inviting us to interpret the possibilities of the open gesture.