Microscopische opname van jonge schelpdiertjes, vijftig keer vergroot 1887 - 1888

This is a photograph by Marinus Pieter Filbri, displaying a microscopic view of young shellfish, magnified fifty times. Observe these tiny, pearl-like forms, clustered together. These shells are potent symbols of transformation and protection. In numerous cultures, shells are revered, often associated with the womb and the mysteries of birth and rebirth. Think of Botticelli’s Venus emerging from a scallop shell, a clear symbol of fertility. Here, the magnification reveals a hidden world, typically unseen by the human eye. This act of unveiling, of bringing the unseen to light, has symbolic parallels in alchemy and spiritual awakening. The dense aggregation of these shells may invoke feelings of awe and wonder, but it also evokes the primal fear of the teeming unknown. The micro becomes a macrocosm, and we are confronted with the endless cycles of life and death that permeate all existence.