Twee handen en een voet 1620 - 1647

Stefano della Bella rendered this study of hands and a foot with pen and brown ink in the 17th century. During this period, the study of anatomy became increasingly important for artists, yet these sketches suggest a more intimate engagement with the human form. Consider the hands and feet of the working class during this era. For those in the service industry, these body parts bore the brunt of daily labor. The drawings invite speculation about the identity and lived experience of the model. Were they accustomed to physical toil? Were they male or female? The softness of Bella’s lines lends a gentleness to the depiction, a quality often absent in more formal, academic studies. By focusing on these oft-overlooked parts of the body, Bella draws our attention to the humanity inherent in the everyday. It makes us reflect on the stories our bodies tell and the subtle dignity within the mundane.