The artwork titled “The Reading of the Hand” was created by Carl Bloch in 1865. This oil on canvas painting, belonging to the Realism art movement, measures 40.5 x 31 cm and falls within the genre painting category.
In the artwork, a man and a woman are depicted in what appears to be a modest, stone-arched setting, suggesting an interior space or a corridor with a rustic ambiance. The man, standing to the left, is wearing a hat and simple attire and is engaged in the act of reading the woman’s palm. The woman, standing to the right, is adorned in a traditional dress with an apron and headscarf, and she gazes attentively at her hand. The scene is lit by an unseen light source, creating a dramatic interplay of light and shadow that enhances the overall realism and intimacy of the moment being captured. The setting is detailed with stone textures and a few objects lying around, augmenting the authenticity of the everyday scene depicted.
