«The hand in the poster»

As a universally understood motif, the hand is deftly staged in all poster categories. It may be the “social” hand that makes an appeal for humanity and solidarity. Or in other posters an “active” hand that reaches out or offers something, entering into an active dialogue with viewers. Posters show hands in countless variations and forms: fighting, dancing, clapping, grabbing, clenched into fists, or giving way.

The object posters popular in advertising in the 1940s and 50s emphasized the haptic properties of a product, a hand often coming into the picture to invite consumers to literally take things into their own hands by purchasing the item.