Copper-Plate Etching, from Encyclopédie 1765

This copper-plate etching, from the Encyclopédie, presents a tableau of human expression and anatomy. Dominating the scene are disembodied heads gazing upwards, a motif laden with historical and cultural significance. The upward gaze has long been associated with religious ecstasy or divine inspiration. Consider Bernini’s Saint Teresa, where the saint’s eyes roll back in a moment of spiritual rapture. This gesture, though seemingly straightforward, taps into a deep well of human experience—the desire to transcend the earthly and connect with something greater. Yet here, the gesture is unsettling. It's an anatomical study, not a religious depiction. Throughout history, artists have explored how eyes reveal our innermost states. These heads, suspended in their circular frames, evoke both curiosity and discomfort, reminding us of the complex, often contradictory, nature of human existence and representation. This symbol, like many others, has undergone countless transformations, resurfacing in different guises across time and culture.