Menselijke wervelkolom met een afwijking 1836 - 1912

Isaac Weissenbruch made this image of a human spine with a deviation as an etching. The image of a spine with a deviation speaks volumes about the social context of medical knowledge and representation in the 19th century Netherlands. How did institutional settings, like medical schools and hospitals, shape the production and reception of anatomical art? This etching, with its detailed rendering, uses visual codes to create meaning. The deviation in the spine is a clear focus, prompting questions about the historical associations with disease, disability, and societal attitudes towards those considered "deviant." Historical records from medical institutions and archives from the time, could reveal insights into the conditions of the time.