Study of Right Hand Hanging Down 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we have Evelyn De Morgan's Study of Right Hand Hanging Down. It’s a drawing of, well, a right hand! It's so realistic, almost photographic. What do you see in this piece, considering De Morgan's other works? Curator: It's intriguing how De Morgan isolates this hand. During the Victorian era, hands in art often symbolized labor, class, or even moral character. This study, seemingly detached, makes you wonder if De Morgan is commenting on the societal role of women. Was she perhaps exploring the constraints or expectations placed upon them? Editor: That's a fascinating point. I hadn't considered the hand as a symbol of social status. Curator: Art academies also often asked the students to draw hands to learn anatomy. So, this drawing might also be De Morgan practicing realism. Editor: It makes you think about how even simple drawings reflect the broader social and artistic context.