Anatomische studie van de hals en de kaak 1685

This is Pieter van Gunst's anatomical study of the neck and jaw, a demonstration of 17th-century knowledge rendered in ink. Look closely at the veils. They partially cover the exposed muscles and tissues. The veil motif has ancient roots, appearing in depictions of mourning figures. This is something we can see as far back as ancient Greece, suggesting concealment and revelation. Even today, in countless artistic renditions of the Passion of Christ, the removal of the veil is central to the narrative. We can think of Saint Veronica. Here, the veils create a similar tension: they conceal as much as they reveal, inviting us to contemplate life and death, beauty and decay. Such images tap into a profound, perhaps subconscious, understanding of our own mortality. As the veils shift and change across time, they continue to engage viewers on a deeply psychological level, sparking thoughts of what lies beneath the surface of existence.