Look at portraits and photographs of leaders, emperors and generals - many of them pose with one hand over the side of their outer clothing. Now it would never occur to anyone to hide their hand behind the edges of their clothes when photographing, but earlier this gesture was taken seriously - it immediately gave a person solidity and importance.
How did this gesture come about and what can it mean?
It is clear that this gesture could not have arisen by itself, and its roots should be sought in distant history. If we do not yet mention the various options about the secret Masonic sign, which was used by the powers that be for self-identification, then the most preferable version is that even in ancient times in some Greek city-states it was considered a rule of good manners among statesmen to hold hands when talking to each other in the folds of clothing (in those days, it usually served as a tunic). Free hands were considered rude and insult.
After the decline of ancient civilization, this custom was forgotten, and only with the onset of the Renaissance was it remembered again. The reason for this was that in the high society of that era, the fashion for antique works, works, culture was revived. Over time, many noble people began to ask to portray them with their hand tucked into their clothes. This gesture probably began to be associated with education, good manners and attributed a person to the upper class. In another way, it can be called as "fashion for classic poses."
Images in this style were especially popular in the 17-19th centuries, and one of the most famous is the portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte by the French artist Jacques-Louis David - "Emperor Napoleon in the Tulirian Palace", 1812.
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Let's not ignore this "conspiracy theory" either. It is alleged that …
1. The fact that most of these representatives of the world elite belong to the Brotherhood of Freemasons is a historical fact that has been documented.
2. The gesture, which we have agreed to call the "hidden hand", is given special, very great importance in Masonic rituals. For example, in the ceremony of elevation to the step of the Royal Arch, when a new initiate utters the words: "This is a part of which I acknowledge myself, what I believe in and what all my labors are aimed at."
Royal Arch Step
The Royal Arch is considered the continuation and completion of the main 3-degree Freemasonry. Its members are no longer just called Brothers, but Companions, and gain access to the greatest Masonic mysteries. Such, for example, as "the secret name of God."
As the researcher of Freemasonry Malcolm Duncan states, the Master says the following words: “In order to reach this stage, you had to become perfect Masters, but you cannot go further without my words. Here they are: Shem, Japheth and Adoniram; and my sign is this (hides his hand in his bosom)."
This gesture is a symbolic representation of a sign that was given to Moses by God himself:
“The Lord also said to him: put your hand in your bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom, took it out, and behold, his hand turned white with leprosy, like snow.
He also said: put your hand again in your bosom. And he put his hand in his bosom; and took it out of his bosom, and behold, she again became the same as his body. (Exodus 4.6,7)
Perhaps this is the reason for the popularity of the "hidden hand" gesture among famous Masons. This sign allows members of the secret Brotherhood to recognize "theirs". In addition, the hand invisible behind the fabric may also be a hint of the secret, closed to the uninitiated nature of Freemasonry.
There is a version that Napoleon was the ancestor of this pose and the rest of the portraits just repeated after him and wanted to look like the Emperor!
Somewhere they wrote that at the dawn of photography, this pose was used to pose for a long time. But what about the many pictures before that? And one motionless hand does not solve all problems.
The closer to modern times, the less popular the habit of posing with a hand hidden over the side of a jacket or coat became, but some famous people in the 20th century continued to be photographed or portrayed in this style.
Do you know another version?
