Twaalf vergrotingen van bloedlichaampjes before 1882

This page shows twelve magnified images of blood cells, likely made in Europe during the 19th century, a period of rapid advancement in microscopy and medical science. The visual codes here present blood not as a vital fluid, but as an object of scientific scrutiny. The images, arranged systematically, evoke the burgeoning field of pathology and the institutionalization of medical research. Consider that this was a time when the understanding of disease was shifting from humoral theory to germ theory, a transformation deeply intertwined with visual technologies like the microscope. How might these images have influenced the public’s perception of the body and disease? How did they shape medical training and practice? To understand these images fully, we might consult medical journals, textbooks, and the records of scientific societies. The meaning of this art lies not just in its aesthetic qualities, but in its role within a complex web of social, cultural, and institutional forces.