“Study of Three Hands” is a piece created by the notable artist Albrecht Dürer around 1494. This work falls within the Northern Renaissance art movement and represents a detailed sketch and study. The original work is housed at the Albertina museum in Vienna, Austria.
The artwork itself contains three meticulously crafted drawings of hands, each shown in different positions and with varying depictions of movement and expression. The hand on the top left appears to be gesturing with pinched fingers as though grasping or holding something very fine, capturing a delicate and precise action. Smoke trails from the fingers, adding a sense of dynamic motion. Meanwhile, the top right sketch shows a hand with fingers tightly clustered together, almost in a grip, demonstrating Dürer’s understanding of muscular tension and the interplay of light and shadow on the flesh. The bottom sketch illustrates a hand with the index finger extended, suggesting a pointing gesture, and is also remarkable for showcasing folds of sleeve, indicating that Dürer was attentive to how the body connects to clothing. Each hand is rendered with significant attention to anatomical detail, revealing the artist’s profound study of human anatomy and skill with a pen.