For centuries, anatomy was considered a fundamental part of artistic training, as artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo were concerned with depicting the human form as skillfully as possible. At this intersection of science and art, the exhibition Flesh and Bones: The Art of Anatomy explores themes of art and anatomy from the 16th century to the present. Interested visitors can see how the structure of the body is represented in a variety of media at the Getty Center in Los Angeles beginning Feb. 22. Exhibits range from spectacular life-size illustrations to delicate paper flaps that can be opened to reveal the inside of the body. Presented through and including July 10, 2022, Flesh and Bones: The Art of Anatomy.
The exhibition is accompanied by an illustrated book edited by Monique Kornell, an independent scholar and curator specializing in the history of anatomical book illustration and the study of anatomy by artists. In addition, the illustrated volume includes contributions by Thisbe Gensler, Naoko Takahatake, and Erin Travers. It explores the various methods artists and anatomy professionals used to illuminate the inner workings of the human body. In this way, more than 150 striking images, drawn primarily from the Getty Research Institute's extensive holdings, will express the fascinating beauty of the human body beneath the skin.
