Exploration: Art That Says Something
The Study of Hands in Ben Shahn’s Work
Going through my book stacks this weekend, I found this book, Prints and Posters of Ben Shahn. It brought back a flood of memories and some thoughts on how to engage kids in a conversation about Art that Says Something.
My major in college was Fine Arts, emphasis: Metal Sculpture, but I took a ton of drawing classes along the way. For years, I really struggled with drawing ‘people-hands.’
My Advanced Drawing teacher, Jim Pink, used to write down lists of names (artists) for me to go research at the library. Every time he wrote up a list, I’d go pull all the titles he’d written down and sit somewhere in a library corner for hours, sifting through the references and trying to figure out what exactly Mr. Pink wanted me to take away from each artist. They all influenced me in some way.
There’s no denying the deep statements and impact of Ben Shahn’s work, exploring his role as a visionary activist and masterful storyteller. But what really stood out to me at that point in my life (and still does) is how he drew hands. What a focal point for exploration!
The way he drew hands.
He made it seem so simple. Yet these hands said so much.
