A man wearing a long outer garment and cap pointing to the left, from the series 'Figurine' 1651 - 1661

Salvator Rosa etched this character around the mid-17th century. Note the man’s simple attire and the striking gesture of his pointed hand. The act of pointing, seemingly straightforward, carries echoes through time. We see it in ancient Roman oratory, where it underscored persuasive speech, and in Renaissance art, where figures like John the Baptist direct our gaze towards divine revelation. Consider how this gesture, laden with the power to command attention, appears in propaganda, religious art, and even everyday communication, each context reshaping its significance. Why does pointing exert such a pull? Perhaps it taps into our primal instincts, triggering our inherent need for direction. This enduring symbol reveals how deeply ingrained the need to guide and be guided is within the collective psyche, continually resurfacing in our art and culture.