A potter moulding a clay pot on the potter’s wheel, Pune, Maharashtra, India. Photo: Sunil Kapadia/Dinodia/UIG 
Pepper farm. Woman preparing Kampot black pepper. Hand selection of pepper. Kep. Cambodia. Photo: Pascal Deloche/Godong/UIG 
Close-up of hop cones in hand (Humulus lupulus), Poperinge, Belgium. Photo: Johan De Meester/Arterra/UIG 
African food. Preparation of the chili sauce. Togo. Photo: Pascal Deloche/Godong/UIG 
Restoration of Saint Gervais baroque church. Pipe organ repair. Tuning. France. Photo: Pascal Deloche/Godong/UIG 
Reportage in a Chinese medicine practice in Lyon, France. Tui Na massage session. Photo: Marie Bienaimé/BSIP/UIG 
Close up of hands on handles of a hand plough Uganda Africa. Photo: Wayne Hutchinson/Farm Images/UIG 
Young female workers doing embroidery. Flowers. Close-up on hand. Hue. Vietnam. Photo: Pascal Deloche/Godong/UIG 
Pepper farm. Woman preparing Kampot black pepper. Hand selection of pepper. Kep. Cambodia. Photo: Pascal Deloche/Godong/UIG 
Masterful hands hard at work shaping the edge on a piece of wood, Wittman, Maryland. Edwin Remsberg/VWPics/UIG 
Process of making homemade bread dough. Female hands kneading dough. Black table with flour. Home bread baking. Photo series. Photo: Natasha Breen/REDA&CO/UIG 
Details of an artisan at work, La Ronda street, Old City of Quito, Ecuador, South America. Photo: Matthew Williams-Ellis/UIG 
Cardiology Hospital. Operating theater. Cardiac surgery. Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam. Photo: Pascal Deloche/Godong/UIG 
Violin Maker. Cremona. Lombardia. Italy. Photo: Giovanni Mereghetti/UIG 
Europe. Italy. Tuscany. Vetulonia. Etruscan Ruins. Location Poggiarello Renzetti. Archaeological Excavations. Photo: Giulio Andreini/UIG 
Surgeon washes her hands prior to surgery. Photo: Newscast/UIG 
Detail of sugarcane workers hands in the field, ethanol production, Amazon region, Brazil. Photo: Ricardo Funari/Brazil Photos/UIG 
1957 – Using a swivel graver with a steel straight edge to scribe a road onto the culture plate of a topographic map. Photo: HUM Images/UIG 
Workshop. Scooter Et Lambretta Museum. Rodano. Milan Provice. Italy. Photo: Giovanni Mereghetti/UIG
They plough the fields that grow the food they pick for us. They then prepare the food we eat. They meticulously shape and build the shelters that keep us safe. They build the tools and devices that help us communicate, create, and move about in our world. When we are ill, they soothe and heal our bodies and minds.
They are often bruised, and seldom smooth nor perfectly conditioned. They frequently have calluses and scratches from their tireless efforts on our behalf. Their many scars indicate past injuries, and their wounds are never given the time to heal properly. More work always needs to be done.
They are the hands of farmers, miners, craftspeople, and carpenters. They belong to chefs, masseuses, nurses, and surgeons. They are simply put………working hands.In celebration of International Workers Day on May 1 (May Day), UIG honors the working hands of those who make our lives better and brighter every day.
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