Self-Portrait 1725 - 1735

Jean-Marc Nattier's self-portrait, a drawing, presents the artist with a gaze that transcends time, and it is the hand, the hand, that reveals a motif ever-present in the theater of human expression. Note the artist’s hand. It is a motif that echoes through art history. This is not merely a hand, but a gesture laden with meaning. Consider its resemblance to the hand gestures of orators in classical antiquity, which were used to emphasize their words and influence their audience. But also, its similarity with religious iconography, for instance, in depictions of Christ or saints bestowing blessings. There is also a hand appearing from above. Is this a representation of the artist's creative spirit, or is he suggesting a divine intervention? The hand becomes a potent symbol of guidance and control. It speaks to our subconscious understanding of power and authority, echoing through the corridors of time and cultural memory. Thus, the hand in Nattier’s drawing is not simply a limb, but a complex symbol. The hand evolves and adapts through history, carrying the weight of cultural memory and the echoes of human emotion.