A reference frame: the images with the sacrifice of Abraham, one of the Biblical subjects that have enjoyed greater popularity since its first appearance in Christian art.
A proposal: this paper suggests an iconographic route for this peculiar motif that has not been sufficiently noticed by the scholars.
A gesture: on the verge of completing the sacrifice of his son, Abraham grasps the hair of Isaac with such impetus that out of its closed fist excels a hair tuft.
Considering the first appearance of this motif and its geographic and chronological distribution, a discrete series is obtained that allows some conjectures. Once a sequence is drawn, it is envisaged an old origin for this iconographical issue. Finally, a possible interpretation is suggested to clarify the reasons to adopt the motif to an established visual pattern.