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Museum Møhlmann
Westersingel 102-104, Appingedam, netherlands 9901 GK

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The book about the Master Hands (128 pages) starts with a 'coming-out'. Artist Rob Møhlmann has a disability. Literal. His fingers are too short. A hereditary disorder that has lighter, but also more serious forms within the family and can be interpreted for generations, up to the 17th century. The painter was ashamed of this for 65 years, but the shame is now over. In this book he describes his life with that handicap (for example, he had to take accordion lessons for 6 years) and what the result was. But he also traces the condition back 27,000 years to a prehistoric cave in Gargas (Fr.), the only place where such failed hands occur on the rock walls. Møhlmann: “No obscure capital rituals as the scholars think, but perhaps the very first documentation of brachydactyly and a direct artist's lineage to my ancestors: the earliest artists of Europe”.

At the same time, he used his anniversary to inform his fellow artists about all this and, especially on this occasion, to 'ask their hand'. Also literally. But then depicted in a work of art. For example, he wanted to set up a Gallery of Master Hands for his museum, as an original alternative to the more traditional artist's self-portrait. The request was completely non-committal. Was it 10? Maybe 30? No, much to his delight, he ended up receiving no fewer than 88 handouts! And that unique collection is not only fully featured in the book, but can also be seen in the museum.

Now there are quite a few museums with self-portraits of artists, but with this 'artist's hand portrait series', The First Gallery of Master Hands in the world will be a fact.
Here are their names:
Tobias Baanders, Maja van Berkestijn, Marianne Bijker, Tim Blaauw, Paul Christiaan Bos, Diane Brodie, Hermien Buytendijk, Bert Denneman, Hans Deuss, Lydeke von Dülmen Krumpelmann, Theo van Egeraat, Sara van Epenhuysen, Joyce Eijkhout, Frâns Faber, Magda Francot , Joke Frima, Haije Gemser, Dinie Goedhart, Rosalie Hammink, Jaap Hartman, Henk Helmantel, Rutger Hiemstra, Annet Hiltermann, Martin Horneman, Carel Huls, Hanneke de Jager, Marianne J. Jansen, Renée Marcus Janssen, Monica Jonkergouw, Romee Kanis, Rita van der Kant, Wim van der Kant, Jacqueline Kasemier, Jannes Kleiker, Cis Koetse, Jannes Koetsier, Keimpe van der Kooi, Michiel Kranendonk, Arend Kuiper, Gert Lambert, Rob de Lange, Sabine Liedtke, Claartje van der Linden, Jan van Loon, Debora Makkus, Marieke Maneschijn, Clary Mastenbroek, Harry Meerveld, Yvonne Melchers, Rob Møhlmann, Jasper Oostland, Dick Oostra, Stefanie Ottens, Rein Pol, Huib Rademakers, Adolfo Ramón, Gerd Renshof, Seen van de Riet, Fokko Rijkens, Erik Rijssemu s, Felicity Rowe, Iris Le Rütte, Ingrid Scholte, Wikje Schoon, Michiel Schrijver, Robin d'Arcy Shillcock, Anuschka de Smidt, Marianne Stam, Ton van Steenbergen, Jan Jaap Stigter, Marjolein Terwindt-Wetterauw, Petra Tolboom, René Tweehuysen, Ed Ubels, Rien van Uitert, Mattie van der Veen, Hennie van der Vegt, Marian Vergouwen, Ruud Verkerk, Marjolein Vernooij, Caroline Verschoor, Ton Voortman, Paul de Vos, Gerrit de Vries, Wout Wachtmeester, Cas Waterman, Maarten Welbergen, Zwaantje Weishaupt, Jittie Wildeman, Dorry van de Winkel, Marijke ten Wolde, Fiona Zondervan.