Seeing life

On the temperamental and intricate origins of microscopic anatomy. Humans have always had an insatiable curiosity for what lies beneath our skin. However, the study of anatomy had a long and complicated path shrouded in taboo. Driven by insatiable curiosity, the early study of the microscopic anatomy of biological tissue revealed the hidden structures of cells in works of sensual artistry. Benjamin Ehrlich explores how visual imagery became indispensable to the study of anatomy.