Microscopische opname van de doornede van een stekel, 25 keer vergroot 1887 - 1888

This is a photographic slide, made by Marinus Pieter Filbri some time before 1917, showing the magnified structure of a thorn. It's a compelling image because of the inherent qualities of its substance, texture, and form. Filbri harnessed then-new technology of photography and microscopy, and the result bears comparison to both scientific illustration, and the decorative arts. Note the radial symmetry, which is also a defining feature of much ornament. This was a period when artists and designers were fascinated by the forms of nature as revealed by the microscope; think of the biomorphic designs associated with Art Nouveau. Ultimately, this image reminds us that all making involves magnification of some kind. Whether we're enlarging a tiny organism for study, or taking inspiration from it to create a new design, we're always scaling up. And in doing so, we create new possibilities for labor, politics, and consumption.