Sketch of two hands (1984)

This page presents "Sketch of two hands" (1984), created by Edwin Austin Abbey. Drawings, a short history: Artists have long used drawings to plan paintings, sculptures, and buildings, so a sketch can show how an idea developed. Because line carries so much of the effect, drawings tend to reward close looking at the quality of the mark. About the period around 1984: Photography, film, and print culture became part of the language of art, and artists across the world developed their own responses to modernism. The range of materials widened to include acrylic paint, screen printing, and mixed media. It is listed in the Drawings collection. The image is in landscape orientation.

Everything for "Sketch of two hands" arrives digitally: Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI. Once payment is confirmed, an email brings the download link, and from there you decide how to print it, whether at home, at a print shop, or through an online service. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Matching the frame to the image proportions avoids cropping. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size. Matte and fine-art papers reduce glare in bright rooms, while glossy papers give stronger contrast and deeper blacks. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour.

American, 1852–1911

If you like the visual language of Edwin Austin Abbey, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.