Ontwerptekening met daarop gemonteerd drie albuminedrukken 1875 - 1877

Félix Joseph Barrias created this study with graphite and three mounted albumen prints. Note the recurring motif of the outstretched hand. In art, the open hand has long been a symbol laden with meaning, from supplication to benediction. Think of the ancient Roman gesture of ad locutio, where an orator extends his hand to command attention. This potent symbol transcends mere communication; it embodies power, intention, and the very act of giving or receiving. We see echoes of this gesture across time, reappearing in religious iconography to secular portraiture. The psychological weight of this symbol is profound. It evokes a sense of connection, an unspoken dialogue between the subject and the viewer. It taps into our collective memory, stirring emotions tied to vulnerability, authority, and the human desire for interaction. Thus, in the visual language of art, the outstretched hand remains a potent symbol, echoing through the ages in a non-linear and cyclical progression, resurfacing and evolving with each new context.