Aesop Takes a Walk

Hands (For the Eye, the Hand of My Body Draws My Portrait) 1977 is a black and white silent film lasting 7 minutes and 30 seconds. The work exists in an edition of 5, of which this copy is number 2, and 2 artist’s proofs. It was originally shot on 8mm film and transferred to DVD more recently. The camera was operated by fellow Romanian artist Ion Grigorescu (born 1945), with whom Bratescu frequently collaborated. In the film the artist’s hands, filmed from her eye level, are performing various movements and activities above her drawing board. The sequence starts with her playing with different objects on the desk, holding a cigarette, removing a wedding ring. The artist subsequently switches to drawing lines on her palms with a black marker and finally tracing the contours of both her hands on a piece of paper.

In this take on the classic fairy tale, instead of being devoured by a wolf, Little Red Riding Hood is devoured by a greedy rich man. To save her life, she uses her wings made from her own blond hair.

The artist’s hands have their own life, they threaten, caress or turn into a landscape of wrinkles and shadows. This is the third film made by Geta Brătescu and Alexandru Solomon.