Drie handen 1620 - 1647

Stefano della Bella created “Drie handen,” or "Three Hands" as it translates, with pen and ink, in the 17th century. Della Bella lived through a period marked by significant social stratification; class distinctions were deeply embedded in the culture of the time. In this sketch, the hands might seem like a straightforward study, but in the context of 17th-century Europe, hands were deeply symbolic. They represented labor, skill, and social status. The delicacy and detail with which Della Bella renders these hands could speak to the value placed on artisanal skill, a skill that was literally "in hand." Yet, the disembodied nature of the sketch might also hint at the alienation of labor, a concept that would later be theorized, where workers are disconnected from the fruits of their labor. Ultimately, “Drie handen” invites us to reflect on the labor of the artist's hand, the hands that create and the social conditions that shape our understanding of work and worth.