Onderbeen c. 1840 - 1843

Sybrand Altmann created this drawing of a lower leg, titled "Onderbeen," using graphite. Altmann lived during a period of significant social and political change in the Netherlands, including reforms in healthcare and social welfare. This drawing appears to be an anatomical study, which was a common practice for artists seeking to understand the human form. It prompts us to think about the historical context of medical and scientific study in relation to the human body. During the 19th century, there was a growing emphasis on scientific observation and empirical knowledge, yet access to bodies for study was often fraught with ethical issues, especially concerning the poor and marginalized. Here, the stark representation of the leg, devoid of any specific identity markers, allows us to consider the human body as both a subject of scientific inquiry and a site of human experience. How does the study of anatomy intersect with our understanding of identity and mortality?