Brought to Life

An archive where you can explore the history of medicine. All sorts of good stuff here including this extremely creepy old school version of The Visible Man (or, in this case, woman).

Female wax anatomical models were often referred to as 'Venuses', after the goddess of love and beauty. Reclining on silk or velvet cushions, in positions copied from works of art, they often had flowing hair and jewellery, which added nothing to their anatomical use. They served to show not just physical differences but also gender differences, as perceived in European culture at that time. A third way of understanding the model is to see the exposed body layers as a symbol of nature 'unveiling herself' to the medical gaze. Looking deep into the body was considered to be the route to knowledge. In just one model, ideas about art, anatomy, gender, flesh and knowledge were all conveyed. (source)

Via