Opgespannen stuk dikke darm met littekenweefsel van opgezwollen holtes before 1879

Curator: This gelatin-silver print, taken sometime before 1879, is attributed to E.J. Ward. It’s titled, perhaps clinically, "Opgespannen stuk dikke darm met littekenweefsel van opgezwollen holtes"—or in English, “Distended section of the large intestine with scar tissue from swollen cavities.” Editor: Well, my first impression is overwhelmingly tactile. The surface texture is incredibly prominent—like a geological survey of an alien landscape. There is such clear visual data concerning materiality in this piece. Curator: It’s undeniably visceral. In symbolic terms, the scarring is potent, isn’t it? It serves as a map of past trauma, a literal imprint of suffering endured, almost like markings on a sacred tree, the patterns carrying memories across time. Editor: The way the edges are held taut with what appears to be thread contributes to the composition—it almost reminds me of sutures. I see the thread’s linearity in contrast with the irregular forms as a structured confinement, drawing even more attention to the inner, organic details of the piece. Curator: Indeed. The stitches present human intervention, even a degree of… caring, perhaps? In a time when understanding illness was dramatically different. To create an image like this—it's an act of seeking control over a disease, offering, through depiction, a form of symbolic understanding or healing. Editor: Agreed, the high contrast typical of gelatin-silver prints certainly accentuates the depth and the relief of those scars, bringing a dramatic contrast to this preserved organic piece. The almost monochrome aesthetic really accentuates the severity of the lesions. Curator: It provides us, in a way, with a profound lesson. Every mark has its story. Even within the physical body, a story is told through the silent symbols of scars. Editor: I see how E.J. Ward has emphasized and even isolated these stories through light and the intentional placement of these thread boundaries, turning a medical study into a document to consider aesthetically. It's oddly affecting.