Afscheid van de anatomie before 1963

Afscheid van de anatomie, or Farewell to Anatomy, is a monochromatic etching made by Aat Verhoog. This artwork pulls the viewer into its contrasting world of shadow and light, achieved through the etching technique that articulates intense blacks against the stark white of the paper. Verhoog creates disquieting forms, seemingly exploring the boundaries between life and death. On the left and centre we can see humanoid figures rendered with anatomical precision, standing alongside shadowy creatures. The juxtaposition of the detailed rendering of musculature and skeletal structure, set against the creatures composed of rougher lines, evokes the intellectual discourse that permeated the post-war Netherlands, destabilising traditional meanings. There is a binary between rational science and primal, untamed forces. This contrast challenges fixed meanings, suggesting a world where the boundaries between the rational and irrational are fluid and ever-shifting. Verhoog doesn't just present an image; rather, he opens up a space for ongoing dialogue between the artwork and its audience.