Chanarach Portrait Detail

[Duxredux he/him]

Someone's probably noticed this before, but I'll mention it in case it hasn't been. For the official Herald portraits, Chanarach doesn't have her safehand covered. Anyone have any idea why this would be the case in setting? The other 3 portraits of female Heralds only their left hand covered, either by a sleeve or a glove, so we know that the custom was being followed by the artists. I kind of want to ask Peter or Brandon if this was deliberate. (copied from Coppermind)

Edited June 28, 2022 by Duxredux
clarity

[Lament on the Wind she/her]

If  Chanarach is the Herald of the Dustbringers,that means she uses her powers by touching stuff with her hands and that means a glove or a safehand would go poof every time she uses her powers.

I'm not sure if i'm right,'cuz knowing Brandon,this detail might have infinite different reasons to be as it is

[RAFOmancer she/her]

On 6/28/2022 at 6:28 PM, WindjoggerTriggerhappy said:

If  Chanarach is the Herald of the Dustbringers,that means she uses her powers by touching stuff with her hands and that means a glove or a safehand would go poof every time she uses her powers.

I'm not sure if i'm right,'cuz knowing Brandon,this detail might have infinite different reasons to be as it is

You're right.

Edited July 4, 2022 by RAFOmancer

[Stormtide_Leviathan]

On 6/28/2022 at 11:28 AM, WindjoggerTriggerhappy said:

If  Chanarach is the Herald of the Dustbringers,that means she uses her powers by touching stuff with her hands and that means a glove or a safehand would go poof every time she uses her powers.

I'm not sure if i'm right,'cuz knowing Brandon,this detail might have infinite different reasons to be as it is

You're probably right, but these are artistic renditions of the heralds right? People didn't really know much about the powers, so I doubt they'd know specific details like that, and the artist would probably draw her with a glove even if she didn't actually wear one

[+Child of Hodor]

On 6/28/2022 at 8:33 AM, Duxredux said:

Someone's probably noticed this before, but I'll mention it in case it hasn't been. For the official Herald portraits, Chanarach doesn't have her safehand covered. Anyone have any idea why this would be the case in setting? The other 3 portraits of female Heralds only their left hand covered, either by a sleeve or a glove, so we know that the custom was being followed by the artists. I kind of want to ask Peter or Brandon if this was deliberate. (copied from Coppermind)

That's a great catch by you! It is weird.

10 hours ago, Stormtide_Leviathan said:

You're probably right, but these are artistic renditions of the heralds right? People didn't really know much about the powers, so I doubt they'd know specific details like that, and the artist would probably draw her with a glove even if she didn't actually wear one

They were done by people who never met the Heralds so they aren't exact in the details, like the exact shape of the face, but they get the broad strokes correct and things like Nale's birthmark. Still it is notable that they depict 3 female Heralds conforming to a religious custom and one not doing that. Even in modern times the Heralds are revered as basically Angels or Gods themselves (in Azir & Shinovar). To show one violating the norm may have some significance. 

Or no one at Dragonsteel caught it in time to fix, which is understandable I never noticed it before reading this thread . 

. 

[Duxredux he/him]

On 6/28/2022 at 9:28 AM, WindjoggerTriggerhappy said:

If  Chanarach is the Herald of the Dustbringers,that means she uses her powers by touching stuff with her hands and that means a glove or a safehand would go poof every time she uses her powers.

I'm not sure if i'm right,'cuz knowing Brandon,this detail might have infinite different reasons to be as it is

That's quite possible, and tactically would make sense why a Dustbringer would have both hands uncovered but then the question should go the other way. Of the other three Heralds, does the glove or sleeve not conflict with their powers? We have Soulcasting or Regrowth used by each of the other three, and while there are exceptions, these abilities also often require direct contact. Did they really only use a single hand during a Desolation, or is this just showing them outside of the context of combat, and if so, why not for Chanarach?

Chanarach is also definitely wearing armor, and combat is one of the Masculine Arts, and the Arts usually accompany the rest of the Vorin social construct. Notably, in the Cosmere you have the archetypal story of "woman breaks custom and excels in a male-dominated role" with stories told in-world of the Ascendant Warrior on Scadrial and Yalaani the Brave on First of the Sun (earth's Mulan as a quick generally known example). I don't think I've heard that archetype referenced for Chanarach, though those stories could be there and just haven't been mentioned yet.

If the omission of a safehand covering was intentional, I do think it will tell us something more, even if it's how they were viewed historically or maybe their personality.

[Shaukan-son-Hasweth he/him]

These portraits are supposed to be in world art. And while the heralds are an important part of Vorinism they are worshipped all across Roshar. Meaning this painting maybe isn't according to Vorin tradition because it might not be Vorin at all.

I don't think it has anything to do with her abilities. The ordinary people of roshar have no clue of her surgebinding abilities. She is depited as hovering as well even though she doesen't have access to gravitation.

in RoW we get Adolins Reaktion to Kelek being able to write. Since Kelek is basically a demigod to him and a religious figure he doesen't feel weird about his literacy because he views him more like an ardent.
So, the heralds might be seen above the masculine/feminine devison and only depicted to cover their hand when they are doing womanly things.

As others have pointed out, it might be part of her Mythology since we don't actually know a lot of in world lore about the Heralds especially the female ones. So she might have a Jehanne d'Arc  thing going on.

In that sense she and Ishar could be the counterpoint to custom. The female warrior and the male sholar.