Compositie met een arm en handen 1764 - 1806

This is Louis Charles Ruotte's "Composition with an Arm and Hands," a drawing in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Without a date, we can still explore how this study of hands touches on the academic traditions of its time, especially those of the 18th and 19th centuries. The drawing focuses on a fragmented body, specifically the arm and hands. It reduces the body to a set of skills, of dexterity and craft. Think about the historical context of the artist and the art world that Ruotte belonged to. This artwork is presented as an exercise and engages with notions of labor, skill, and the body. How does it reflect societal expectations around gender, class, and ability? "Composition with an Arm and Hands" invites us to reflect on the value and representation of bodies, labor, and skill in art.