What is the portrait pose with clasped or folded hands, and why is it used?

Question

In some portraits, the subject’s hands are clasped or folded together and placed centrally, often resting on a table or in their lap. Is there a standard name for this pose, and does it carry any common meaning or visual purpose in portraiture?

composition portraiture posing art-history

Originally by user81115. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user81115

3y ago

user85449 · Accepted Answer

Portrait with folded hands

There are many references in art with descriptive titles where this type of portrait is often called Portrait with folded hands.


Portrait of a forty year old woman with folded hands, Frans Hals, 1638	Portrait of an Old Woman with Folded Hands, Jacob Adriaensz Backer, 1640	Woman with Folded Hands, Käthe Kollwitz, 1898
wikiart.org	wikiwand	artmuseum.princeton.edu

About the meaning, more than a subjective reason, there's a practical and protocol issue regarding the position of arms and hands on a table.

Hands behind the table

The person gives the feeling of hiding something. Protocol, in almost all countries at the table the hands must always be visible.

Showing hands and their cleanliness represents clean hands = clean work.

Hands on the table

Situation of rest: the work already done or the lack of interest in doing it.

Elbows on the table

Interest, always ready for action, work and work together.

Placing your elbows on the table can emphasize interest and concentration.

^{Source theetiquetteconsultant.com}