My favorite secret hand gesture in a painting is in the portrait of the Duchess of Alba by Goya. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Francisco-de-Goya-Duchess-

My favorite secret hand gesture in a painting is in the portrait of the Duchess of Alba by Goya. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Francisco-de-Goya-Duchess-of-Alba-1796-1797-Oil-on-canvas-2103-A-1493-cm-Inscribed_fig1_331348277 https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Francisco-de-Goya-Duches... The text on the floor that she is pointing to reads 'solo Goya' (only Goya) and was not discovered until the painting was cleaned in modern times. As to it's significance, draw your own conclusions.