Atlantic City Boardwalk 1973 - 1978

Richard Gordon, sometime during the last century, captured in gelatin silver print a fascinating display of hands. Hands, displayed like specimens, evoke ancient practices of palmistry, of predicting fate and understanding character through the lines of the hand. We see hands in a similar fashion across time – consider the ancient Greek practice of cheiromancy, or even the handprints in prehistoric caves, each a primal urge to understand and be understood. In Renaissance art, hands often signify power, benediction, or even a hidden truth. Think of the raised hand of a blessing, or the delicate, knowing hands of a saint. Here, the array of hands seems almost clinical, yet their symbolic weight persists. Each hand, with its unique lines and shape, whispers stories of lives lived. The collective unconscious recognizes in these hands a deeper, more primal connection to our own mortality and the human story. These images tap into the powerful forces of memory and recognition, engaging viewers on a deeply personal and subconscious level.