Healing, Knowing, Seeing the Body | Spencer Museum of Art

Spencer Museum of Art

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Healing, Knowing, Seeing the Body

Cassandra Mesick Braun, curator

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This exhibition explores our ongoing curiosity of the human body through historic and contemporary works of art that expose the diverse ways that people have attempted to understand the human body in its many physiological, psychological, and symbolic dimensions.

Works of art

Plate A, from Traité complet d l’anatomy de l’homme: Tome 7 (Complete Treatise of the Anatomy of Man: Volume 7), Jean-Baptiste Marc Bourgery; Nicolas Henri Jacob — Jean-Baptiste Marc Bourgery; Nicolas Henri Jacob

Plate A, from Traité complet d l’anatomy de l’homme: Tome 7 (Complete Treatise of the Anatomy of Man: Volume 7), 1832–1854

Plate D, from Traité complet d l’anatomy de l’homme: Tome 7 (Complete Treatise of the Anatomy of Man: Volume 7), Jean-Baptiste Marc Bourgery; Nicolas Henri Jacob — Jean-Baptiste Marc Bourgery; Nicolas Henri Jacob

Plate D, from Traité complet d l’anatomy de l’homme: Tome 7 (Complete Treatise of the Anatomy of Man: Volume 7), 1832–1854

Tab. VIII The Skeleton, Back View, Bernhard Siegfried Albinus; Jan Wandelaar — Bernhard Siegfried Albinus; Jan Wandelaar

Tab. VIII The Skeleton, Back View, reprinted 1748

Tab. III The Skeleton, Side View, Bernhard Siegfried Albinus; Jan Wandelaar — Bernhard Siegfried Albinus; Jan Wandelaar

Tab. III The Skeleton, Side View, reprinted 1748

Tab. IV The Fourth Order of Muscles, Front View, Bernhard Siegfried Albinus; Jan Wandelaar — Bernhard Siegfried Albinus; Jan Wandelaar

Tab. IV The Fourth Order of Muscles, Front View, reprinted 1748

Tab. II The Fourth Order of Muscles, Back View, Bernhard Siegfried Albinus; Jan Wandelaar — Bernhard Siegfried Albinus; Jan Wandelaar

Tab. II The Fourth Order of Muscles, Back View, reprinted 1748

Micrographia; or, Some physiological descriptions of minute bodies made by magnifying glasses. With observations and inquiries thereupon, Robert Hooke — Robert Hooke

Micrographia; or, Some physiological descriptions of minute bodies made by magnifying glasses. With observations and inquiries thereupon, 1667 (second reprinting of first edition)

Tashrīḥ-i badan-i insān (Mansur’s Anatomy), Manṣūr ibn Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn Yūsuf Ibn Ilyās — Manṣūr ibn Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn Yūsuf Ibn Ilyās

Tashrīḥ-i badan-i insān (Mansur’s Anatomy), 1600s (original 1400s)

Anatomia corporum humanorum, William Cowper — William Cowper

Anatomia corporum humanorum, 1750 (original 1698)

acupuncture model (and box with calligraphic writing) — William Cowper

acupuncture model (and box with calligraphic writing), 1700s

De humani corporis fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human Body), Franciscus Francisci and Johannes Criegher; Andreas Vesalius — Franciscus Francisci and Johannes Criegher; Andreas Vesalius

De humani corporis fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human Body), 1568 (original 1543)

Child Taken by Mermaid, Melania Mazinyani — Melania Mazinyani

Child Taken by Mermaid, 1988–1996

untitled, Andrew Carnie; Juan José Castaño-Márquez — Andrew Carnie; Juan José Castaño-Márquez

untitled, 2020

untitled, Andrew Carnie; Juan José Castaño-Márquez — Andrew Carnie; Juan José Castaño-Márquez

untitled, 2020

Pelt, Ingrid Bachmann — Ingrid Bachmann

Pelt, 2012

Plea, Mary Anne Jordan; Andrew Carnie — Mary Anne Jordan; Andrew Carnie

Plea, 2020

Open Heart, Mary Anne Jordan; Andrew Carnie — Mary Anne Jordan; Andrew Carnie

Open Heart, 2020

untitled, Andrew Carnie; Nazanin Amiri Meers — Andrew Carnie; Nazanin Amiri Meers

untitled, 2020

Eye Heart Kidneys, Sydney Jane Brooke Campbell Maybrier Pursel; Andrew Carnie — Sydney Jane Brooke Campbell Maybrier Pursel; Andrew Carnie

Eye Heart Kidneys, 2020

untitled, Andrew Carnie; Nazanin Amiri Meers — Andrew Carnie; Nazanin Amiri Meers

untitled, 2020

Organ Donation Operation, Sydney Jane Brooke Campbell Maybrier Pursel; Andrew Carnie — Sydney Jane Brooke Campbell Maybrier Pursel; Andrew Carnie

Organ Donation Operation, 2020

Embrace, Ingrid Bachmann — Ingrid Bachmann

Embrace, 2021

The Ceiling Can’t Hold Us, Dylan Mortimer — Dylan Mortimer

The Ceiling Can’t Hold Us, 2018

View from the Ambulance, Dylan Mortimer — Dylan Mortimer

View from the Ambulance, 2018

The Anatomy Table, Sean Caulfield — Sean Caulfield

The Anatomy Table, 2018

Fetish (object/object/object), Merritt Johnson — Merritt Johnson

Fetish (object/object/object), 2018

Exorcising America: Mouth Exercises, Merritt Johnson — Merritt Johnson

Exorcising America: Mouth Exercises, 2016

Door between worlds (Animal), Merritt Johnson — Merritt Johnson

Door between worlds (Animal), 2018

Spinal Disc Replacement—Mr. Chalmers, Holland Houdek — Holland Houdek

Spinal Disc Replacement—Mr. Chalmers, 2013

Nelumbo Mastoplasty, Lotus Breast Implant Replacement Neckpiece, Holland Houdek — Holland Houdek

Nelumbo Mastoplasty, Lotus Breast Implant Replacement Neckpiece, 2017

Virus #1, Sean Caulfield — Sean Caulfield

Virus #1, 2018

Virus #2, Sean Caulfield — Sean Caulfield

Virus #2, 2018

Virus #3, Sean Caulfield — Sean Caulfield

Virus #3, 2018

untitled, Andrew Carnie; Rachel Causer — Andrew Carnie; Rachel Causer

untitled, 2017

untitled, Andrew Carnie; Rachel Causer — Andrew Carnie; Rachel Causer

untitled, 2017

untitled, Andrew Carnie — Andrew Carnie

untitled, 2018

untitled, Andrew Carnie; Vanessa Rolf — Andrew Carnie; Vanessa Rolf

untitled, 2020

untitled, Andrew Carnie; Andrea Barrett — Andrew Carnie; Andrea Barrett

untitled, 2020

untitled, Andrew Carnie — Andrew Carnie

untitled, 2017

untitled, Elizabeth Layton — Elizabeth Layton

untitled, August 1984

Heart and Mind, Andrew Carnie — Andrew Carnie

Heart and Mind, 2020

First pulse, 1854, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

First pulse, 1854, 2017

How We Touch One Another, Andrew Carnie — Andrew Carnie

How We Touch One Another, 2020

Cours de Zoonomie considérée dans ses rapports avec les Arts de l'Homme 1re Partie, Horace Vernet — Horace Vernet

Cours de Zoonomie considérée dans ses rapports avec les Arts de l'Homme 1re Partie, 1820

Mae West, Diane Arbus; Neil Selkirk — Diane Arbus; Neil Selkirk

Mae West, 1965

Charles Atlas, Diane Arbus; Neil Selkirk — Diane Arbus; Neil Selkirk

Charles Atlas, 1969

Operating Room, Fort Riley, Joseph Judd Pennell — Joseph Judd Pennell

Operating Room, Fort Riley, 1906

untitled (Jerome, Arizona), Leland D. Rice — Leland D. Rice

untitled (Jerome, Arizona), 1977

Caricature of the Laocoön represented as a Monkey in a Landscape, Nicoló Boldrini; Titian — Nicoló Boldrini; Titian

Caricature of the Laocoön represented as a Monkey in a Landscape, 1500s

The Bonham Project (Armpits), Jon O'Neal — Jon O'Neal

The Bonham Project (Armpits), 1989

The Bonham Project (torso side views), Jon O'Neal — Jon O'Neal

The Bonham Project (torso side views), 1989

The Bonham Project (arm/chest views), Jon O'Neal — Jon O'Neal

The Bonham Project (arm/chest views), 1989

The Bonham Project Panel, Jon O'Neal — Jon O'Neal

The Bonham Project Panel, 1993

The Bonham Project, Jon O'Neal — Jon O'Neal

The Bonham Project, 1987

The Bonham Project, Jon O'Neal — Jon O'Neal

The Bonham Project, 1987

The Bonham Project, Jon O'Neal — Jon O'Neal

The Bonham Project, 1989

Nature/Medicine, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith; Michael Sims; Zanatta Editions — Jaune Quick-to-See Smith; Michael Sims; Zanatta Editions

Nature/Medicine, 1996

untitled (Womba, version 2, RS9805), Renée Stout — Renée Stout

untitled (Womba, version 2, RS9805), 1998

Anorexia Girl, Jenny Schmid — Jenny Schmid

Anorexia Girl, 2003

As It Is, Eric Avery; Bill Lagatutta; Peregrine Press — Eric Avery; Bill Lagatutta; Peregrine Press

As It Is, 1987

Emerging Infectious Diseases, Eric Avery — Eric Avery

Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2000

Anatomical Plate with Male and Female Figures, Lucas Kilian; Johann Remmelin; Stephan Michelspacher — Lucas Kilian; Johann Remmelin; Stephan Michelspacher

Anatomical Plate with Male and Female Figures, 1613

idiok mask, unrecorded Ibibio artist — unrecorded Ibibio artist

idiok mask, early-mid 1900s

agere Ifa (divination cup), unrecorded Oyo artist — unrecorded Oyo artist

agere Ifa (divination cup), early-mid 1900s

Der Tod als Erwurger - Erster Auftritt der Cholera auf einem Maskenball in Paris 1831 (Death the Strangler - The first outbreak of cholera at a masked ball in Paris 1831), Alfred Rethel — Alfred Rethel

Der Tod als Erwurger - Erster Auftritt der Cholera auf einem Maskenball in Paris 1831 (Death the Strangler - The first outbreak of cholera at a masked ball in Paris 1831), 1851

Short Cut, Andrew Carnie — Andrew Carnie

Short Cut, 2020

Echo, Andrew Carnie — Andrew Carnie

Echo, 2020

藥師佛 Yaoshi fo (Medicine Buddha) — Andrew Carnie

藥師佛 Yaoshi fo (Medicine Buddha), late 1500s–early 1600s, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

Gōshō Mandara (Mandala of Amitābha’s Welcoming Descent) — Andrew Carnie

Gōshō Mandara (Mandala of Amitābha’s Welcoming Descent), possibly 1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)

Bodaichū Kodaisō attended by the Physician Shini Andōzen, Utagawa Kuniyoshi — Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Bodaichū Kodaisō attended by the Physician Shini Andōzen, circa 1827–1830, Edo period (1600–1868)

In/Out, Andrew Carnie — Andrew Carnie

In/Out, 2020

Chromo-Therapy, Patrick A. Nagatani — Patrick A. Nagatani

Chromo-Therapy, 1981

Verberations, Andrew Carnie — Andrew Carnie

Verberations, 2020

School Nurse, Margo Kren — Margo Kren

School Nurse, 1982

Brain Cancer Headdress for Maro, Athena Tacha — Athena Tacha

Brain Cancer Headdress for Maro, 1992

Device 39C, Insulin Pumps, Holland Houdek — Holland Houdek

Device 39C, Insulin Pumps, 2019

Shoulder Replacement – Mrs. Bjerk, Holland Houdek — Holland Houdek

Shoulder Replacement – Mrs. Bjerk, 2013

Cardiovascular Complex, Heart and Vein Implant, Holland Houdek — Holland Houdek

Cardiovascular Complex, Heart and Vein Implant, 2017

x-ray image of Shoulder Replacement – Mrs. Bjerk, Holland Houdek — Holland Houdek

x-ray image of Shoulder Replacement – Mrs. Bjerk, date unknown

x-ray image of Spinal Disc Replacement – Mr. Chalmers, Holland Houdek — Holland Houdek

x-ray image of Spinal Disc Replacement – Mr. Chalmers, date unknown

Listening to music (Schubert's "Serenade"), 1880, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Listening to music (Schubert's "Serenade"), 1880, 2017

Umbilical cord, first gasp, cutting of cord, 1886, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Umbilical cord, first gasp, cutting of cord, 1886, 2017

10 year old boy, 1886, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

10 year old boy, 1886, 2017

Smelling lavender, 1896, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Smelling lavender, 1896, 2017

Full meal with wine, 1874, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Full meal with wine, 1874, 2017

Under influence of hiccups, 1886, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Under influence of hiccups, 1886, 2017

Palpitations (panic attack), 1902, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Palpitations (panic attack), 1902, 2017

Name softly called while sleeping, 1877, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Name softly called while sleeping, 1877, 2017

Faith, 1913, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Faith, 1913, 2017

Religious guilt, 1878, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Religious guilt, 1878, 2017

irregular pulse from a man, 62, whose work entailed severe bodily labor, 1902, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

irregular pulse from a man, 62, whose work entailed severe bodily labor, 1902, 2017

Sadness from listening to a sung melody, (Le Vallon) Gounod, 1896, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Sadness from listening to a sung melody, (Le Vallon) Gounod, 1896, 2017

Flatline (dying of stomach cancer), 1870, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Flatline (dying of stomach cancer), 1870, 2017

Before and during emotion, 1870, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Before and during emotion, 1870, 2017

8 months pregnant, 1870, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

8 months pregnant, 1870, 2017

Young girl, 15, heart palpitations, 1886, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Young girl, 15, heart palpitations, 1886, 2017

Being shamed/scolded (you behave like a child; you ruin everything for me.), 1876, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Being shamed/scolded (you behave like a child; you ruin everything for me.), 1876, 2017

Exhausted by misery and undernourished; rest and being fed, 1870, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Exhausted by misery and undernourished; rest and being fed, 1870, 2017

Experiment with cannabis (sudden freedom from an unusual feeling, beginning to feel an indefinable sensation of comfort), 1874, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Experiment with cannabis (sudden freedom from an unusual feeling, beginning to feel an indefinable sensation of comfort), 1874, 2017

Holding breath while listening to tuning fork, 1880, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Holding breath while listening to tuning fork, 1880, 2017

Before and after a draught of hot milk, 1878, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Before and after a draught of hot milk, 1878, 2017

Arising from sleep, 1876, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Arising from sleep, 1876, 2017

Early senility, 1870, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Early senility, 1870, 2017

Small sized female, 28, 1886, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Small sized female, 28, 1886, 2017

After exciting news a change occurs, almost like that due to fainting, 1870, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

After exciting news a change occurs, almost like that due to fainting, 1870, 2017

3 months old, sleeping, 1874, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

3 months old, sleeping, 1874, 2017

Blowing whistle in ear, 1880, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Blowing whistle in ear, 1880, 2017

After exercise and residence in the country, 1867, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

After exercise and residence in the country, 1867, 2017

Smoking a strong cigar, 1874, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Smoking a strong cigar, 1874, 2017

Perfect mental repose, 1879, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Perfect mental repose, 1879, 2017

Snoring, 1876, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Snoring, 1876, 2017

Anger, 1874, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Anger, 1874, 2017

Fear, 1912, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Fear, 1912, 2017

Twenty-four hours before death (pneumonia), 1883, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Twenty-four hours before death (pneumonia), 1883, 2017

Pulse of man, 6 feet tall, 1870, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Pulse of man, 6 feet tall, 1870, 2017

Mother giving birth, fetal heartbeats (twins) in utero, 1898, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Mother giving birth, fetal heartbeats (twins) in utero, 1898, 2017

Female, 24, exhaustion with excitement, pulse leaping, 1867, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Female, 24, exhaustion with excitement, pulse leaping, 1867, 2017

Threatening a little girl, 10, to go to dentist, 1896, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Threatening a little girl, 10, to go to dentist, 1896, 2017

Riding Bike, 1906, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Riding Bike, 1906, 2017

Emotion of fear from shouting of the word "snakes,"1896, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Emotion of fear from shouting of the word "snakes,"1896, 2017

Taking involuntary deep breath while solving multiplication problem, 1879, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Taking involuntary deep breath while solving multiplication problem, 1879, 2017

Young lady, 28, much debilitated by prolonged mental work, the entertainment of company, and the cares of a large household, 1874, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Young lady, 28, much debilitated by prolonged mental work, the entertainment of company, and the cares of a large household, 1874, 2017

Eating Chocolate 1912, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Eating Chocolate 1912, 2017

Happy, 1912, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Happy, 1912, 2017

Ear lightly touched with feather while sleeping, 1877, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Ear lightly touched with feather while sleeping, 1877, 2017

Young boy, dreaming, 1877, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Young boy, dreaming, 1877, 2017

A hard drinker, quite recently a sufferer of sunstroke, 1874, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

A hard drinker, quite recently a sufferer of sunstroke, 1874, 2017

Heart disease, 1854, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Heart disease, 1854, 2017

Quickened irregular pulse due to sudden failure of the heart, 1902, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Quickened irregular pulse due to sudden failure of the heart, 1902, 2017

Les ventouses (Suction Cups), Olga Bing — Olga Bing

Les ventouses (Suction Cups), 1917

Le goûter (Taste It), Olga Bing — Olga Bing

Le goûter (Taste It), 1917

Pansement difficile (Difficult Dressing), Olga Bing — Olga Bing

Pansement difficile (Difficult Dressing), 1917

Examen d'une plaie (Inspecting a Wound), Olga Bing — Olga Bing

Examen d'une plaie (Inspecting a Wound), 1917

The Magic Gate, Elizabeth Layton — Elizabeth Layton

The Magic Gate, 1987

Woman's Suffrage, Elizabeth Layton — Elizabeth Layton

Woman's Suffrage, 1977

Sparrows Sing to an Indifferent Sea, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Sparrows Sing to an Indifferent Sea, 2019

Methuselah in Her Cradle, Dario Robleto — Dario Robleto

Methuselah in Her Cradle, 2019

Death and the Lady, Sebald Beham — Sebald Beham

Death and the Lady, 1541

medical bag, unrecorded Potawatomi artist — unrecorded Potawatomi artist

medical bag, circa 1890

possible idiok mask, unrecorded Ibibio artist — unrecorded Ibibio artist

possible idiok mask, early 1900s–1967

Honan (badger katsina), unrecorded Hopi artist — unrecorded Hopi artist

Honan (badger katsina), late 1800s–1999

Root Chart #1, Renée Stout — Renée Stout

Root Chart #1, 2006

Fear, Elizabeth Layton — Elizabeth Layton

Fear, November 4, 1981

Genesis, Jane Bunker — Jane Bunker

Genesis, 2005

Seduction Coat, Renée Stout; Pyramid Atlantic — Renée Stout; Pyramid Atlantic

Seduction Coat, 2005

Raggedy Ann and Andy on the Shelf, Elizabeth Layton — Elizabeth Layton

Raggedy Ann and Andy on the Shelf, 1979

Entry - Frame, Peter G. Thompson — Peter G. Thompson

Entry - Frame, 2012

Frame, Peter G. Thompson — Peter G. Thompson

Frame, 2014

Consultation room / Surgery, Peter G. Thompson — Peter G. Thompson

Consultation room / Surgery, 2009

Repurposed billboard west of Salina, Kansas along I-70 7/13/2014 – 1:40PM, Philip Heying — Philip Heying

Repurposed billboard west of Salina, Kansas along I-70 7/13/2014 – 1:40PM, 2014

Eclipse, Gina Westergard — Gina Westergard

Eclipse, 2005

Reserving: Tuberculosis, Ruth Cuthand — Ruth Cuthand

Reserving: Tuberculosis, 2018

L'Infirmière (The Nurse), Hermann-Paul — Hermann-Paul

L'Infirmière (The Nurse), 1914–1918