The artwork titled “Hands with a Stick,” created by Vincent van Gogh in 1885 while he was in Nunen (Nuenen), Netherlands, is a fine example of the artist’s contribution to the Realism movement. Executed using chalk and pencil on paper, this sketch and study piece offers a detailed examination of human hands grasping a stick. The artwork is currently housed in the Van Gogh Museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
In this meticulously crafted piece, van Gogh presents several views of hands tightly gripping a stick. Each hand is rendered with attention to anatomical precision, capturing the tension and effort of the fingers and muscles. The varying perspectives, showcased on what appears to be a divided piece of paper, highlight the artist’s deep observational skills and his commitment to portraying reality with a high degree of fidelity. The use of shading and cross-hatching techniques adds depth and texture, imbuing the mundane subject matter with a dynamic and almost tangible presence. Through this study, van Gogh not only refines his understanding of the human form but also documents the intensity of his artistic process.
