| January 9, 2004 |
Previous | Next |
Dream Anatomy
The  mysteries of human anatomy fascinated and inspired numerous artists of the 15th century. Tasked with the marginally grotesque job of rendering human cadavers for medical books and scientific research, many of these artists gleefully took creative license in their work, depicting whimsical, surreal, and iconographic visions of the body. This exhibit from the National Library of Medicine straddles art and science, offering a peek into the bizarre world of anatomical imagery. Start with anatomical primitives, when crude illustrations reflected medieval iconography rather than anatomical accuracy. Play with cadavers, see body parts as art, and learn how science never got in the way of good entertainment. As realism gradually took hold, the wackiness and dissections continued. By the 20th century, the industrial body emerged. In every era, these deft illustrators imparted wit, whimsy, and social distortion in the subjects they catalogued. (in Anatomy) |
|
Email this Pick
Save to del.icio.us
Save to My Web
Digg This
|
|
|
|
|
