Hands Holding a Sword and a Tricorn c. 1790

This drawing of hands holding a sword and a tricorn hat was made by Anton Graff sometime before his death in 1813. It is rendered in charcoal and white chalk, and it's the process itself that gives the work its meaning. The brown paper is activated by the artist's marks. Graff is not trying to produce a finished composition here; this is a sketch, probably made in preparation for a painting. It is also a study in labor. The hand is the most expressive part of the body for an artist; here it takes center stage. The drawing celebrates the work of crafting an image. Graff is exploring the ways in which hands hold power – both literally, in their grasp of a sword, and figuratively, in their capacity to create. The drawing is evidence of the artist's own skill, and a reminder that all images are made by someone. It is an invitation to consider the labor and the social context that goes into every work of art.