Twee mannenhoofden en ogen vanuit verschillende gezichtspunten 1762 - 1793

Jean François Janinet created this print, "Two Male Heads and Eyes from Different Perspectives," sometime in the late 18th century using etching and roulette. Janinet was working in France during a time of revolution, where Enlightenment ideals intertwined with strict class structures. The print gives us two male figures, their heads displayed in different states: one appears flayed, revealing the musculature beneath the skin, and the other is seemingly complete. The print almost reads as a study of the aesthetic and scientific views of the body that emerged during the Enlightenment, which was a period of rapid advancement in science and medicine. At the time, the study of anatomy was becoming more prevalent and detailed. However, the piece also raises questions about the role of the body and the politics of representation, especially in a society deeply stratified by class. The exposed musculature of one head, contrasted with the more idealized, classical features of the other, invite us to consider the power dynamics inherent in observing and dissecting the human form. How does the act of looking – closely, analytically – affect our perception of humanity, and how might this relate to broader social inequalities?