Anatomische studie van de navelstreng en de placenta 1685

This image is an anatomical study of the umbilical cord and placenta, made by Pieter van Gunst, around the turn of the 18th century. It's an engraving, a printmaking technique involving careful cutting into a metal plate, inking the recessed lines, and pressing the plate onto paper. The image emphasizes the physical reality of the placenta and umbilical cord. The linear precision of the engraving captures the textures, weights, and organic forms of the organ and cord, in all of their strange beauty. Van Gunst was a noted portraitist, but printmaking was in many ways a collaborative undertaking. While he may have been responsible for the image, specialist printers would have been contracted to produce the work at scale. This division of labor was typical of the period, reflecting a world of specialized knowledge and artistic production. In that respect, this image connects fine art to the broader world of craft and manufacture.