Study Models of Parts of the Body before 1570

These study models of parts of the body were made by Johan Gregor van der Schardt in the 16th century. The Renaissance interest in science and the human body is clear, but what's also fascinating is the social context surrounding anatomical studies at this time. Often, dissections were performed on the bodies of executed criminals, the poor or those on the margins of society. These models, therefore, become relics of a time when certain bodies were seen as more disposable, and more available for the sake of scientific advancement. Consider too, how these models might have been used in the education of artists, mostly men, further reinforcing existing power dynamics in knowledge and representation. It’s a poignant reminder of the complex layers of identity, ethics, and power woven into the seemingly objective pursuit of knowledge.