Microscopische opname van kop van een vlieg, 25 keer vergroot 1887 - 1888

This magnified photograph of a fly's head was made by Marinus Pieter Filbri in the Netherlands, sometime around the turn of the 20th century. Consider the social context for this image. The late 19th century was a time of rapid advancements in scientific technology, with photography and microscopy opening up new ways of seeing the world. This photograph reflects the growing interest in the natural world and the desire to understand it through scientific observation. How might it have been used? Perhaps as an educational tool, or as part of a scientific study? Was it intended to be seen as art? These are the kinds of questions that we, as art historians, can ask. By looking at the cultural and institutional context in which it was made, we can gain a deeper understanding of the photograph's significance and its place in the history of science and visual culture.