Hand and Forearm n.d.

"Hand and Forearm" is a drawing by Antoine Coypel made with black and red chalk on paper. Coypel lived during the reign of Louis XIV, a period when French art emphasized classical ideals of beauty, order, and restraint. This study of a hand and forearm gives us an intimate glimpse into the artistic process, revealing the artist's attention to detail, form, and anatomy. But what does it mean to represent the human body, and whose bodies get represented? For centuries, art has been dominated by the male gaze, with female bodies often objectified and idealized for male pleasure. Here, we are invited to contemplate the labor, gestures, and expressions of the human form. As you observe the subtle nuances of this drawing, consider whose hands have been historically overlooked or erased from the artistic canon, and how we might amplify marginalized voices and narratives in art history.