Studies van menselijke armen 1710 - 1767

Editor: This is Leonard Schenk's "Studies van menselijke armen," from somewhere between 1710 and 1767. It’s an ink drawing on paper, and it’s fascinating to see so many arms together like this. There’s a real sense of movement and purpose even though they're just studies. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: The hand, and by extension, the arm, has always been a potent symbol across cultures. These "Studies" showcase the hand as an instrument of action, creation, and even supplication. Consider how often hands appear in religious iconography, bestowing blessings or bearing the marks of sacrifice. What gestures do you observe recurring here, and what could they signify? Editor: I see arms holding objects – a staff, some kind of rope… And some hands are clenched, while others are open, like in giving. Curator: Exactly. Note how the artist renders the musculature. These are not simply anatomical studies; they evoke strength, labour, and perhaps even suffering. The baroque style, while often associated with grandeur, also had a fascination with realism and the human form’s capacity for both beauty and hardship. What memories or emotions do these images stir in you? Editor: Seeing them all together, I think about the countless things hands have done throughout history – built monuments, written stories, and even destroyed civilizations. It's a powerful reminder of human agency. Curator: Indeed. The isolated nature of the study invites meditation upon humanity itself. Schenk has given us not merely arms but emblems, archetypes even. A constant play of activity. This piece now offers new stories as we stand before it, as a cultural marker that memory helps create a sense of self. Editor: I never considered the hands this way, as symbols carrying so much weight. It’s definitely changed how I see this drawing. Curator: It is incredible how a symbol can bring so much insight, right?