Microscopische opname van schub van een baars, veertig keer vergroot 1887 - 1888

Editor: Here we have Marinus Pieter Filbri’s "Microscopic image of a perch scale, magnified forty times," a gelatin-silver print made between 1887 and 1888. It’s incredible to see something so minute rendered in such detail. What symbols or imagery jump out at you in this work? Curator: Immediately, I'm struck by the concentric rings of the scale. Think about it – rings are potent symbols found across cultures: tree rings marking time, halos signifying holiness, or even ripples expanding outwards, signifying influence and the spread of ideas. Editor: I hadn't thought about that. So, you’re seeing this scientific image as something more symbolic? Curator: Precisely! Filbri, perhaps unwittingly, captured more than just scientific data. This magnified scale echoes the universal fascination with cycles and patterns, not unlike palm reading! Scales carry symbolic weight tied to protection, armor, and even deceit. Look at dragons of mythology – they all feature scaled skin for protection. Does the presentation, a dark field with a white disk, remind you of the moon? Editor: I can see that! Now the image feels less clinical and more connected to broader human interests. It also has me wondering how viewers at the time might have reacted. Curator: Absolutely! Context is everything. How would the Victorian audience, grappling with new scientific discoveries, have viewed it? Were they as fascinated by its beauty as by its implications for understanding the natural world? It's a potent intersection of science and art. Editor: This reminds me that art isn’t just what we see at face value. I'm going to be seeing scientific illustration a little differently from now on! Curator: Indeed! It is about understanding the layers of meaning and how imagery resonates across time and culture. The convergence is what allows images to live on, retaining emotional, psychological, and symbolic relevance.