Anatomie van een inktvis before 1901

This black and white photograph, titled "Anatomie van een inktvis", was created by Adolphe Louis Donnadieu, using then-innovative photographic processes. Photography has a fascinating history, moving rapidly from a scientific tool to an artistic medium. This image hovers between those worlds. Photography allowed for unprecedented levels of detail. It was a means of capturing and disseminating visual information. This image is a scientific exploration of the anatomy of an octopus, likely used for educational purposes. Consider the labor involved in producing this image. First, catching and preparing the octopus. Then the meticulous work in the darkroom to develop this print, an alternative to slow and laborious drawing and printing. In this way, the photograph becomes a type of visual knowledge, widely accessible in ways that a unique drawing never could be. This photograph challenges distinctions between scientific documentation and art, reminding us of the inherent human labor in every image we see.