Onderdeel van het menselijk lichaam met een afwijking 1836 - 1912

This is a drawing by Isaac Weissenbruch, held at the Rijksmuseum, titled 'Onderdeel van het menselijk lichaam met een afwijking'. The drawing presents a detailed view of the human shoulder, delineated with precise lines that evoke a sense of clinical detachment. The composition, dominated by the anatomical rendering of muscle fibers and bone structure, uses the language of medical illustration. Weissenbruch’s work operates within a semiotic framework. The detailed linework and labelling, common in anatomical drawings, invite a scientific reading. Yet the artwork's declared focus on an 'abnormality' subtly destabilizes this objective stance. It asks us to consider how deviations from the norm are represented and understood. The artist prompts us to reflect on the body as a site of both scientific inquiry and potential otherness. The formal qualities, like the stark contrast of the lines against the plain background, underscore a sense of scrutiny. This aesthetic choice highlights how visual representation shapes our perception of health, normality, and difference.