Study of a hand

Fratelli Alinari

1854

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Early 19th Century

About this work

This is a close-up black-and-white photo of a single hand. The fingers are slightly curled, with the thumb resting on top. The skin looks textured, with shadows and lines showing every bump and crease. This isn’t a drawing—it’s an early photograph. The artist, Fratelli Alinari, used light and shadow to make the hand look real. Next, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more of their photo collection.