Peace gesture (dove)
Universal gesture of peace: two hands open, palms down. Used worldwide to express peace, solidarity and non-violence. No offense intended.
Meaning
Target direction : Peace, non-violence. A universal gesture.
Geography of misunderstanding
Neutral
- worldwide
1. The gesture and its meaning
The "dove of peace" gesture represents a raised hand with two spread fingers (index and middle fingers) pointing skywards, palm open to the front. The two fingers form the silhouette of a dove or wings. This gesture universally symbolizes peace, hope, non-violence and nuclear disarmament.
2. Genesis: Picasso and artistic symbolism
The association between the dove and peace comes from Pablo Picasso's lithograph "La Colombe" (1949), created for the World Peace Congress in Paris and Prague (1949). The "V of Peace" gesture became popular in the 1950s-1960s among nuclear disarmament activists, particularly in the context of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) movement in Great Britain (1958+).
3 Incidents and key historical moments
The British CND adopted the symbol in 1958, creating the iconic "peace" logo. The "V of Peace" gesture became ubiquitous during American anti-war demonstrations (1964-1973, notably against the Vietnam War). Public figures (Jane Fonda, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John Lennon) popularized the gesture at public events.
4. Regional variations and contexts
British/European variant: palm facing the body (initially) vs. American/global (palm forward). The gesture has remained relatively stable morphologically. No documented offensive variants.
5. Recommendations and sensitivities
The gesture is universal and well understood as a symbol of peace. Appropriate in political contexts, legal demonstrations, photography, media. Not to be confused with LGBTQ+ rainbow.
Documented incidents
- — Picasso crée "La Colombe" (lithographie) pour le Congrès Mondial de la Paix. Consécration métaphorique de la colombe = paix, fondation symbolique du geste futur.
- — Création du logo CND (cercle avec symbole paix stylisé). Adoption du geste "V de la paix" par activistes britanniques du désarmement nucléaire.
- — Apogée du geste lors des manifestations contre la Guerre du Vietnam. Marche sur Washington (1968, Dr. MLK Jr.). Ubiquité médiatique du geste.
Practical recommendations
To do
- Approprié pour exprimer un message de paix, désarmement, non-violence. Utilisé librement dans manifestations légales, photographies, contextes politiques pacifistes.
Avoid
- À éviter uniquement en contextes offensants ou de moquerie de causes pacifistes. Respecter le sérieux du symbole politique.
Neutral alternatives
Other peace symbols: white dove image, rainbow peace symbol, olive branch.
Sources
- Gestures: Their Origins and Distribution
- Gesture: Visible Action as Utterance