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Portrait of a Thrice-thumbed Man
Pen and ink, 8 x 6 inches, 2003
Polydactylism, having one or more extra fingers or toes, is a fairly common anomaly,
but one I've always found fascinating. How strange that the some genetic fluke should cause
the duplication of a finger or a toe. As mutations go, this could even have potential benefits. Properly trained and utilized,
those extras digits could play complicated piano sonatas, perform intricate card tricks, or
throw a mean curve ball. But these days, extra digits are routinely removed
in infancy, thereby depriving glovemakers of special commissions.
This portrait was inspired by a photograph of an unknown fellow who was described only as “the best cotton picker around,” which though
mundane must have been a source of pride.
The setting was inspired by the gesture of the sitter in Petrus Christus's
1446 portrait of Edward Grimston.
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All Images and Text © James G. Mundie 2003 - 2018
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