Microscopische opname van schub van een paling, 25 keer vergroot 1887 - 1888

Editor: This is "Microscopische opname van schub van een paling, 25 keer vergroot" by Marinus Pieter Filbri, a photographic print from around 1887-1888. The subject matter is fascinating; it’s literally a microscopic photograph of an eel scale. What jumps out to me is how such a clinical, scientific image becomes something almost abstract. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a questioning of the established hierarchy separating art and science. Photography itself, in the late 19th century, was often viewed more as a tool than an art form. Here, Filbri uses it for scientific observation, magnifying the minute structure of an eel scale. But in doing so, doesn’t he also highlight the beauty of this unseen world, making it accessible through the mechanics of lens and light? The labor involved in preparing the slide, focusing the microscope, capturing and developing the image—it’s all part of the process of making this scientific specimen available for consumption. Editor: So you’re saying it’s not just about what we see, but also about how it was made visible? The technology involved? Curator: Exactly! Consider the materiality of the print itself. What paper was used? How were the chemicals sourced and prepared? These seemingly mundane details speak to a wider network of industry, trade, and scientific advancement. This print exists as both art and a scientific document due to the industrial revolution, advancements in image creation, and mass access to materials. Editor: It's fascinating to consider the confluence of science, technology, and artistic vision present in a single photograph. I'll definitely think differently about what "art" can encompass! Curator: And I'll consider more carefully the human element, the unseen labor, in the production of these scientific images.