Ecorche head of a man in profile to left 1660

Wenceslaus Hollar created this etching, "Écorché Head of a Man in Profile to Left," in 1668, after a drawing by Leonardo da Vinci. During the 17th century, artists often made studies of human anatomy, which involved dissecting cadavers to understand muscles, tissues, and bone structure. Hollar’s écorché, or flayed figure, speaks to a complex history where science, art, and the body intersect. Here, the exposed muscle and tissue are rendered with striking detail. While Hollar wasn't doing the dissections himself, he was reproducing Da Vinci's work. Who was this figure? Was it a man of privilege, whose likeness was preserved, or was it someone from the margins of society? Consider this print not just as a scientific study, but also as a meditation on what it means to be seen, exposed, and remembered through art. It prompts us to consider whose bodies are historically rendered visible and whose remain unseen.