Book of a Hundred Hands

Canadian-American artist, writer, and teacher George B. Bridgman taught anatomy and figure drawing for nearly fifty years at the Art Students League of New York. He is considered one of the most prolific art instructors of his time, and counted Norman Rockwell as one of his many students. Work from Bridgman's art books was even found in Jackson Pollock's sketchpad.

In The Book of a Hundred Hands Bridgman examines the human hand and all its capacities for expression and nuance. There are few anatomical features that tell us as much about a person as their hand, and Bridgman takes great care to highlight how a person's age, sex, emotion, physical health, and occupation can all be expressed in their hands. To properly convey all these details, the artist must have a thorough understanding of the form, function, and anatomy of the human hand.

The over 100 illustrations included in this work show the hand in nearly every position and posture. Special attention is given to the bones, tendons, joints, and musculature of the hand, displaying all these aspects in a variety of different situations and perspectives. The Book of a Hundred Hands is essential reading for any artist regardless of experience or technical skill.