Anatomische studie van de binnenkant van de schedel en de hersenen 1685

This is an anatomical study of the inside of a skull and brain, made by Pieter van Gunst, a Dutch Golden Age engraver, sometime between 1659 and 1724. Engravings such as this played a crucial role in the advancement of medical knowledge, serving as visual aids for students and practitioners during a time when access to actual dissections was limited. The print’s meticulous detail, combined with its widespread circulation, speaks volumes about the growing scientific culture of the Dutch Republic. Consider the institutions that might have commissioned this work. Perhaps a university or a medical society seeking to disseminate knowledge. The numbered keys invite us to participate in the process of scientific inquiry. We can consult contemporary medical texts to understand the terminology and the theories that informed the image. The study of art is enhanced by looking into the social context in which it was created.