Siamese tweelingen Possibly 1665 - 1814

Here we see two studies of conjoined twins by Joseph van Huerne, dating back to the late 18th or early 19th century. During this period, scientific and medical communities grappled with understanding the natural world, often viewing anomalies like conjoined twins as 'monstrous' aberrations. Van Huerne’s delicate sketches offer a glimpse into the intersection of science, culture, and personal experience. The upper sketch is accompanied by handwritten notes in Dutch, "Monster tot Zuijenkerke op 't Hottieke van Martinas versehen the weireld gekomens siit heer nevene de dissabriptle" which indicates that these twins were born in Zuijenkerke to a woman called Martinas. These drawings document and classify while also provoking a sense of wonder and perhaps unease. The study reflects a moment in history where the boundaries of what was considered 'normal' were being tested and redefined, with lasting implications for how we perceive and treat those who fall outside those norms.