Studies van handen 1774 - 1837

Editor: Here we have "Studies van handen," or "Studies of Hands," created by Charles Howard Hodges between 1774 and 1837. It’s a drawing with pencil and colored pencil on paper, and it’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. I’m immediately struck by the academic nature of this piece. It feels so… deliberate. What do you see in it? Curator: I see a direct reflection of the artistic training and societal values of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Academic art, during that period, was deeply intertwined with institutions like the Royal Academies. A drawing like this exemplifies their emphasis on mastering human anatomy as a foundation for painting and sculpture. Editor: So it’s about training and almost...practicing? Curator: Precisely. And the public role of these academies was crucial. They shaped artistic taste, dictated what was considered "good" art, and controlled exhibition spaces. Exercises like drawing hands, often after antique casts, were central to their curriculum, which inevitably shaped the artistic landscape. The social status of an artist was often tied to this mastery. Think of these studies as part of a much larger visual language of power and status of artistic style, one approved and supported by these influential institutions. Editor: It’s amazing how something as seemingly simple as hand studies can reveal so much about the art world and society at the time! Curator: Exactly! Even a study is more than what meets the eye. It embodies the values, structures, and politics embedded within the art world. We should always be questioning: who decided these were important things to draw, and why? Editor: Definitely gives you a new perspective on academic art!