The use of hands as an iconic signature goes as far back as prehistoric cave paintings. Fast forward to contemporary photographer Rena Small who portrays artists' hands as signatory icons. Hands can be a meaningful way to judge character as through a caress, a handshake or a gesture. The blind see through their hands and palmists foresee the future.
Hands can also reveal occupation.
In that vein, think of the peasant's gnarled fingers in Van Gogh's Potato Eaters . There is no question they held the hoe that harvested their meal. For Small, hands are the pipeline to the unconscious. Viewing them as compelling indicators of human emotion, she finds them more eloquent than traditional portraits. Since 1985, she has chosen to photograph the hands of hundreds of noted American artists.