Two deformed heads 1645 - 1650

Wenceslaus Hollar made this print, Two Deformed Heads, using etching in the 17th century. He was working in a European printmaking culture with a complex system of workshops, publishers, and distribution networks. Hollar likely based these images on drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, whose name is inscribed on the print. These images represent Leonardo’s interest in physiognomy, the idea that one can assess a person’s character from their outward appearance. In Renaissance and Baroque Europe, physiognomy was closely tied to notions of social class and race. Deformity could be associated with moral failing. But in his studies, Leonardo was more interested in charting a range of human variation. Prints such as this one circulated widely and were collected in albums and “cabinets of curiosities.” By studying the appearance of people, Hollar and Leonardo participated in the project of natural philosophy. The print allowed their ideas to spread beyond a small circle. Historical research helps us understand the changing roles and meanings of images over time.