Anatomische studie van de binnenkant van de baarmoeder en een foetus 1685

This is Pieter van Gunst's anatomical study of the inside of a womb with a foetus, made using etching techniques during the late 17th and early 18th century. During this period, the rise of scientific inquiry and the Enlightenment ideals intersected with deeply entrenched societal norms about women's bodies and roles. The image presents a detached, almost clinical view of reproduction, reflecting the era's burgeoning interest in anatomical accuracy. Yet, it also tells a story about the cultural attitudes toward women. The depiction of the womb and foetus, while scientifically motivated, exists within a context where women's primary value was often reduced to their reproductive capacity. This print offers a glimpse into the historical intersection of science, gender, and power, inviting us to reflect on how knowledge about the body is constructed and whose perspectives are privileged in that construction.