Anatomische studie van menselijke huid en nagel
1737
Medium
etching
Dimensions
164; 117
About this artwork
height 117 mm x width 164 mm
Art Historical Context
This delicate etching by Dutch printmaker Jan l'Admiral captures the intricate textures of human skin and nail in remarkable detail. Created in 1737, the small-scale work—measuring just 117 by 164 millimeters—reflects the period’s growing fascination with anatomy as both a scientific pursuit and an artistic subject. During the Enlightenment, artists and physicians collaborated closely to produce accurate visual records for medical education, and l’Admiral’s precise linework exemplifies this fruitful exchange between art and science. Etching proved especially well suited to such studies, allow...
About the Artist
Jan l'Admiral · 1699–1773
Jan l'Admiral (1699–1773) was a pioneering Dutch engraver whose mastery of color mezzotint technique and collaboration with leading anatomists made him a crucial figure in both artistic printmaking and scientific illustration. Born in Amsterdam in 1699 to an engraver father of the same name, l'Admiral belonged to a family of printmakers and received training that would position him at the forefron...