Microscopische opname van een insect, zestig keer vergroot 1887 - 1888

Here we have a microscopic photograph of an insect, magnified sixty times, by Marinus Pieter Filbri. Although undated, we can place Filbri’s work in the context of late 19th-century scientific advancement, which was largely seen as a tool for understanding and controlling the natural world. This image, however, suggests something more nuanced. Consider that the ability to render the miniscule visible transforms our relationship with these creatures. We are encouraged not just to classify, but to see the intricate detail of a tiny being. The composition, with the insect centered in a circular frame, isolates it, turning it into an object of contemplation. While seemingly objective, there is an undeniable element of aestheticization that encourages us to consider our emotional and perceptual biases. In a sense, Filbri asks us to acknowledge the beauty and complexity of life at every scale.