Zes microscoopopnamen van bacteriën en bacillen before 1890

Editor: Well, these micrographs are haunting! A very alien beauty… Curator: Indeed. What we're looking at is an early photographic print entitled "Zes microscoopopnamen van bacteriën en bacillen," made before 1890 by Carl Günther. The photographic images, arranged as a kind of grid, are studies of different types of bacteria and bacilli. Editor: It’s striking how Günther uses this "grid" layout to invite comparison. The materiality of the print—the paper, the ink, the texture—they lend a unique sense of gravity and… dare I say… authority? Each framed circle becomes an independent investigation, its value weighed against the others. Curator: Absolutely. And let’s consider the photographic process itself. Each image, while objective in its scientific aim, involves choices about composition and contrast, translating the unseen into something perceivable. Notice the contrast that allows us to differentiate shapes and patterns of these organisms. Editor: Speaking of objective… isn’t there a contradiction? The “truth” it portrays relies on specific tools and materials. Consider the microscopic lenses, their crafting, their inherent distortion. The production and manipulation—that entire system transforms mere samples into legible… art? Curator: A good point. Perhaps Günther’s work lies in mediating between observation and rendering a certain aesthetic, or an easily consumable image for didactic purposes. His choice of arranging it, his creation of something artistic is not unintentional but is calculated for viewing, contemplation. It isn’t a mere copy of something. Editor: I see that now—how technique and process add value here. Thinking about the labour involved, both the scientific research and photographic craftsmanship is… humbling, I suppose. I do feel an intense historical link, realizing how relatively recent this all is, this opening of our eyes to another dimension. Curator: The layering of disciplines is itself an amazing achievement. Günther has captured and presented an entire alien world within the traditional format of the print, offering us, both scientifically and materially, an invaluable glimpse. Editor: So even a document like this—with science as its declared aim—contains immense potential for revealing artful beauty in the most unsuspected of places. Thank you.