Studies of Fairies with a Pair of Hands (possibly representing the Opening of Pandora's Box) 1784

William Lock the Younger created this drawing with pen and brown ink, with gray wash and graphite on paper. At first glance, the looming hands at the top suggest a divine presence, reminiscent of depictions where God's hands reach down from the heavens, bestowing blessings or intervening in human affairs. Yet, considering the title, and the swarm of figures emerging from the scene below, these hands take on a more sinister connotation. They evoke the moment Pandora's box is opened, unleashing evils upon the world. This motif of opening, and the horrors released, echoes through time. We find it in ancient myths, medieval morality plays, and even modern horror stories. What is striking is the emotional intensity captured in this moment of release. The figures writhe and contort, embodying the chaos unleashed. This drawing taps into a primal fear of the unknown, and the consequences of unchecked curiosity, reminding us of the power of symbols to transcend time and resonate with our deepest anxieties.