Ineengevouwen handen c. 1840 - 1860

Charles Rochussen made this drawing of clasped hands in the Netherlands, likely sometime in the mid-19th century. The image, rendered in delicate strokes, presents an intimate glimpse into human form and emotion. Hands, as a subject, occupy a fascinating space in the history of art. Historically, they could symbolize labor, devotion, or even social status, depending on the context. In 19th-century Dutch society, marked by increasing industrialization and shifting social structures, representations of hands might evoke ideas about work, charity, or even piety. This drawing can open up many questions for the social historian of art. What was the artist's social position, and how might that have influenced their choice of subject? What might period sources such as letters, diaries, or newspaper articles reveal? By situating a work like this within its specific cultural and institutional context, we come to understand it as something more than just an aesthetic object.