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Photo credit: Jacques-Louis David/Wikimedia Commons & John Jabez Edwin Mayall/Wikimedia Commons – Why do men in famous portraits all have one hand in their coat?

Culture, Generations

Historians explain why men in old-timey portraits always had one hand in their vest or coat

Evan Porter

9/27/2026
Students next to their garden project at Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy in Atlanta

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Education, Innovation

From food deserts to oral cancer, these high school students are designing solutions for the planet’s toughest challenges.

Sarah Watts

9/11/2026
Photo credit: Jacques-Louis David/Wikimedia Commons & John Jabez Edwin Mayall/Wikimedia Commons – Why do men in famous portraits all have one hand in their coat?

Culture, Generations

Historians explain why men in old-timey portraits always had one hand in their vest or coat

Evan Porter

6/20/2026

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famous portraits

Historians explain why men in old-timey portraits always had one hand in their vest or coat

From food deserts to oral cancer, these high school students are designing solutions for the planet’s toughest challenges.

Historians explain why men in old-timey portraits always had one hand in their vest or coat