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

Spencer Museum of Art

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Exhibition

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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

Jean-Baptiste Marc Bourgery (1797–1849); 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) — 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

1832–1854

Jean-Baptiste Marc Bourgery (1797–1849); 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) — 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

1832–1854

Jan Wandelaar (1690–1759); Bernhard Siegfried Albinus (1697–1770), Tab. VIII The Skeleton, Back View — Tab. VIII The Skeleton, Back View

Bernhard Siegfried Albinus, Jan Wandelaar

reprinted 1748

Jan Wandelaar (1690–1759); Bernhard Siegfried Albinus (1697–1770), Tab. III The Skeleton, Side View — Tab. III The Skeleton, Side View

Bernhard Siegfried Albinus, Jan Wandelaar

reprinted 1748

Jan Wandelaar (1690–1759); Bernhard Siegfried Albinus (1697–1770), Tab. IV The Fourth Order of Muscles, Front View — Tab. IV The Fourth Order of Muscles, Front View

Bernhard Siegfried Albinus, Jan Wandelaar

reprinted 1748

Jan Wandelaar (1690–1759); Bernhard Siegfried Albinus (1697–1770), Tab. II The Fourth Order of Muscles, Back View — Tab. II The Fourth Order of Muscles, Back View

Bernhard Siegfried Albinus, Jan Wandelaar

reprinted 1748

Robert Hooke (1635–1703), Micrographia; or, Some physiological descriptions of minute bodies made by magnifying glasses. With observations and inquiries thereupon — Micrographia; or, Some physiological descriptions of minute bodies made by magnifying glasses. With observations and inquiries thereupon

Robert Hooke

1667 (second reprinting of first edition)

Manṣūr ibn Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn Yūsuf Ibn Ilyās (1380–1422), Tashrīḥ-i badan-i insān (Mansur’s Anatomy) — Tashrīḥ-i badan-i insān (Mansur’s Anatomy)

Manṣūr ibn Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn Yūsuf Ibn Ilyās

1600s (original 1400s)

William Cowper (circa 1666–1709), Anatomia corporum humanorum — Anatomia corporum humanorum

William Cowper

1750 (original 1698)

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

1700s

Franciscus Francisci and Johannes Criegher; Andreas Vesalius (1514–1564), De humani corporis fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human Body) — De humani corporis fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human Body)

Franciscus Francisci and Johannes Criegher, Andreas Vesalius

1568 (original 1543)

Melania Mazinyani, Child Taken by Mermaid — Child Taken by Mermaid

Melania Mazinyani

1988–1996

Andrew Carnie (born 1957); Juan José Castaño-Márquez (born 1987), untitled — untitled

Andrew Carnie, Juan José Castaño-Márquez

2020

Andrew Carnie (born 1957); Juan José Castaño-Márquez (born 1987), untitled — untitled

Andrew Carnie, Juan José Castaño-Márquez

2020

Ingrid Bachmann (born 1958), Pelt — Pelt

Ingrid Bachmann

2012

Mary Anne Jordan (born 1957); Andrew Carnie (born 1957), Plea — Plea

Mary Anne Jordan, Andrew Carnie

2020

Mary Anne Jordan (born 1957); Andrew Carnie (born 1957), Open Heart — Open Heart

Mary Anne Jordan, Andrew Carnie

2020

Andrew Carnie (born 1957); Nazanin Amiri Meers (born), untitled — untitled

Andrew Carnie, Nazanin Amiri Meers

2020

Sydney Jane Brooke Campbell Maybrier Pursel (born 1988); Andrew Carnie (born 1957), Eye Heart Kidneys — Eye Heart Kidneys

Sydney Jane Brooke Campbell Maybrier Pursel, Andrew Carnie

2020

Andrew Carnie (born 1957); Nazanin Amiri Meers (born), untitled — untitled

Andrew Carnie, Nazanin Amiri Meers

2020

Sydney Jane Brooke Campbell Maybrier Pursel (born 1988); Andrew Carnie (born 1957), Organ Donation Operation — Organ Donation Operation

Sydney Jane Brooke Campbell Maybrier Pursel, Andrew Carnie

2020

Ingrid Bachmann (born 1958), Embrace — Embrace

Ingrid Bachmann

2021

Dylan Mortimer (born 1979), The Ceiling Can’t Hold Us — The Ceiling Can’t Hold Us

Dylan Mortimer

2018

Dylan Mortimer (born 1979), View from the Ambulance — View from the Ambulance

Dylan Mortimer

2018

Sean Caulfield (born 1967), The Anatomy Table — The Anatomy Table

Sean Caulfield

2018

Merritt Johnson (born 1977), Fetish (object/object/object) — Fetish (object/object/object)

Merritt Johnson

2018

Merritt Johnson (born 1977), Exorcising America: Mouth Exercises — Exorcising America: Mouth Exercises

Merritt Johnson

2016

Merritt Johnson (born 1977), Door between worlds (Animal) — Door between worlds (Animal)

Merritt Johnson

2018

Holland Houdek (born 1985), Spinal Disc Replacement—Mr. Chalmers — Spinal Disc Replacement—Mr. Chalmers

Holland Houdek

2013

Holland Houdek (born 1985), Nelumbo Mastoplasty, Lotus Breast Implant Replacement Neckpiece — Nelumbo Mastoplasty, Lotus Breast Implant Replacement Neckpiece

Holland Houdek

2017

Sean Caulfield (born 1967), Virus #1 — Virus #1

Sean Caulfield

2018

Sean Caulfield (born 1967), Virus #2 — Virus #2

Sean Caulfield

2018

Sean Caulfield (born 1967), Virus #3 — Virus #3

Sean Caulfield

2018

Andrew Carnie (born 1957); Rachel Causer (born 1970), untitled — untitled

Andrew Carnie, Rachel Causer

2017

Andrew Carnie (born 1957); Rachel Causer (born 1970), untitled — untitled

Andrew Carnie, Rachel Causer

2017

Andrew Carnie (born 1957), untitled — untitled

Andrew Carnie

2018

Andrew Carnie (born 1957); Vanessa Rolf (born 1977), untitled — untitled

Andrew Carnie, Vanessa Rolf

2020

Andrew Carnie (born 1957); Andrea Barrett (born 1997), untitled — untitled

Andrew Carnie, Andrea Barrett

2020

Andrew Carnie (born 1957), untitled — untitled

Andrew Carnie

2017

Elizabeth Layton (1909–1993), untitled — untitled

Elizabeth Layton

August 1984

Andrew Carnie (born 1957), Heart and Mind — Heart and Mind

Andrew Carnie

2020

Dario Robleto (born 1972), First pulse, 1854 — First pulse, 1854

Dario Robleto

2017

Andrew Carnie (born 1957), How We Touch One Another — How We Touch One Another

Andrew Carnie

2020

Horace Vernet (1789–1863), Cours de Zoonomie considérée dans ses rapports avec les Arts de l'Homme 1re Partie — Cours de Zoonomie considérée dans ses rapports avec les Arts de l'Homme 1re Partie

Horace Vernet

1820

Diane Arbus (1923–1971); Neil Selkirk (born 1947), Mae West — Mae West

Diane Arbus, Neil Selkirk

1965

Diane Arbus (1923–1971); Neil Selkirk (born 1947), Charles Atlas — Charles Atlas

Diane Arbus, Neil Selkirk

1969

Joseph Judd Pennell (1866–1922), Operating Room, Fort Riley — Operating Room, Fort Riley

Joseph Judd Pennell

1906

Leland D. Rice (born 1940), untitled (Jerome, Arizona) — untitled (Jerome, Arizona)

Leland D. Rice

1977

Nicoló Boldrini (active 1530–1570); Titian (1485 or 1490–1576), Caricature of the Laocoön represented as a Monkey in a Landscape — Caricature of the Laocoön represented as a Monkey in a Landscape

Nicoló Boldrini, Titian

1500s

Jon O'Neal (born 1957), The Bonham Project (Armpits) — The Bonham Project (Armpits)

Jon O'Neal

1989

Jon O'Neal (born 1957), The Bonham Project (torso side views) — The Bonham Project (torso side views)

Jon O'Neal

1989

Jon O'Neal (born 1957), The Bonham Project (arm/chest views) — The Bonham Project (arm/chest views)

Jon O'Neal

1989

Jon O'Neal (born 1957), The Bonham Project Panel — The Bonham Project Panel

Jon O'Neal

1993

Jon O'Neal (born 1957), The Bonham Project — The Bonham Project

Jon O'Neal

1987

Jon O'Neal (born 1957), The Bonham Project — The Bonham Project

Jon O'Neal

1987

Jon O'Neal (born 1957), The Bonham Project — The Bonham Project

Jon O'Neal

1989

Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (1940–2025); Michael Sims (born 1944); Zanatta Editions (1996–present), Nature/Medicine — Nature/Medicine

Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Michael Sims, Zanatta Editions

1996

Renée Stout (born 1958), untitled (Womba, version 2, RS9805) — untitled (Womba, version 2, RS9805)

Renée Stout

1998

Jenny Schmid (born 1969), Anorexia Girl — Anorexia Girl

Jenny Schmid

2003

Eric Avery (born 1948); Bill Lagatutta; Peregrine Press, As It Is — As It Is

Eric Avery, Bill Lagatutta, Peregrine Press

1987

Eric Avery (born 1948), Emerging Infectious Diseases — Emerging Infectious Diseases

Eric Avery

2000

Lucas Kilian (1579–1637); Johann Remmelin (1583–1632); Stephan Michelspacher (active 1613–1619), Anatomical Plate with Male and Female Figures — Anatomical Plate with Male and Female Figures

Lucas Kilian, Johann Remmelin, Stephan Michelspacher

1613

unrecorded Ibibio artist, idiok mask — idiok mask

unrecorded Ibibio artist

early-mid 1900s

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

unrecorded Oyo artist

early-mid 1900s

Alfred Rethel (1816–1859), 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) — 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

1851

Andrew Carnie (born 1957), Short Cut — Short Cut

Andrew Carnie

2020

Andrew Carnie (born 1957), Echo — Echo

Andrew Carnie

2020

藥師佛 Yaoshi fo (Medicine Buddha) — 藥師佛 Yaoshi fo (Medicine Buddha)

late 1500s–early 1600s, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

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

possibly 1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), Bodaichū Kodaisō attended by the Physician Shini Andōzen — Bodaichū Kodaisō attended by the Physician Shini Andōzen

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

circa 1827–1830, Edo period (1600–1868)

Andrew Carnie (born 1957), In/Out — In/Out

Andrew Carnie

2020

Patrick A. Nagatani (1945–2017), Chromo-Therapy — Chromo-Therapy

Patrick A. Nagatani

1981

Andrew Carnie (born 1957), Verberations — Verberations

Andrew Carnie

2020

Margo Kren (born 1939), School Nurse — School Nurse

Margo Kren

1982

Athena Tacha (born 1936), Brain Cancer Headdress for Maro — Brain Cancer Headdress for Maro

Athena Tacha

1992

Holland Houdek (born 1985), Device 39C, Insulin Pumps — Device 39C, Insulin Pumps

Holland Houdek

2019

Holland Houdek (born 1985), Shoulder Replacement – Mrs. Bjerk — Shoulder Replacement – Mrs. Bjerk

Holland Houdek

2013

Holland Houdek (born 1985), Cardiovascular Complex, Heart and Vein Implant — Cardiovascular Complex, Heart and Vein Implant

Holland Houdek

2017

Holland Houdek (born 1985), x-ray image of Shoulder Replacement – Mrs. Bjerk — x-ray image of Shoulder Replacement – Mrs. Bjerk

Holland Houdek

date unknown

Holland Houdek (born 1985), x-ray image of Spinal Disc Replacement – Mr. Chalmers — x-ray image of Spinal Disc Replacement – Mr. Chalmers

Holland Houdek

date unknown

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Listening to music (Schubert's "Serenade"), 1880 — Listening to music (Schubert's "Serenade"), 1880

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Umbilical cord, first gasp, cutting of cord, 1886 — Umbilical cord, first gasp, cutting of cord, 1886

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), 10 year old boy, 1886 — 10 year old boy, 1886

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Smelling lavender, 1896 — Smelling lavender, 1896

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Full meal with wine, 1874 — Full meal with wine, 1874

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Under influence of hiccups, 1886 — Under influence of hiccups, 1886

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Palpitations (panic attack), 1902 — Palpitations (panic attack), 1902

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Name softly called while sleeping, 1877 — Name softly called while sleeping, 1877

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Faith, 1913 — Faith, 1913

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Religious guilt, 1878 — Religious guilt, 1878

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), irregular pulse from a man, 62, whose work entailed severe bodily labor, 1902 — irregular pulse from a man, 62, whose work entailed severe bodily labor, 1902

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Sadness from listening to a sung melody, (Le Vallon) Gounod, 1896 — Sadness from listening to a sung melody, (Le Vallon) Gounod, 1896

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Flatline (dying of stomach cancer), 1870 — Flatline (dying of stomach cancer), 1870

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Before and during emotion, 1870 — Before and during emotion, 1870

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), 8 months pregnant, 1870 — 8 months pregnant, 1870

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Young girl, 15, heart palpitations, 1886 — Young girl, 15, heart palpitations, 1886

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Being shamed/scolded (you behave like a child; you ruin everything for me.), 1876 — Being shamed/scolded (you behave like a child; you ruin everything for me.), 1876

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Exhausted by misery and undernourished; rest and being fed, 1870 — Exhausted by misery and undernourished; rest and being fed, 1870

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Experiment with cannabis (sudden freedom from an unusual feeling, beginning to feel an indefinable sensation of comfort), 1874 — Experiment with cannabis (sudden freedom from an unusual feeling, beginning to feel an indefinable sensation of comfort), 1874

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Holding breath while listening to tuning fork, 1880 — Holding breath while listening to tuning fork, 1880

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Before and after a draught of hot milk, 1878 — Before and after a draught of hot milk, 1878

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Arising from sleep, 1876 — Arising from sleep, 1876

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Early senility, 1870 — Early senility, 1870

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Small sized female, 28, 1886 — Small sized female, 28, 1886

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), After exciting news a change occurs, almost like that due to fainting, 1870 — After exciting news a change occurs, almost like that due to fainting, 1870

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), 3 months old, sleeping, 1874 — 3 months old, sleeping, 1874

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Blowing whistle in ear, 1880 — Blowing whistle in ear, 1880

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), After exercise and residence in the country, 1867 — After exercise and residence in the country, 1867

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Smoking a strong cigar, 1874 — Smoking a strong cigar, 1874

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Perfect mental repose, 1879 — Perfect mental repose, 1879

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Snoring, 1876 — Snoring, 1876

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Anger, 1874 — Anger, 1874

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Fear, 1912 — Fear, 1912

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Twenty-four hours before death (pneumonia), 1883 — Twenty-four hours before death (pneumonia), 1883

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Pulse of man, 6 feet tall, 1870 — Pulse of man, 6 feet tall, 1870

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Mother giving birth, fetal heartbeats (twins) in utero, 1898 — Mother giving birth, fetal heartbeats (twins) in utero, 1898

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Female, 24, exhaustion with excitement, pulse leaping, 1867 — Female, 24, exhaustion with excitement, pulse leaping, 1867

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Threatening a little girl, 10, to go to dentist, 1896 — Threatening a little girl, 10, to go to dentist, 1896

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Riding Bike, 1906 — Riding Bike, 1906

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Emotion of fear from shouting of the word "snakes,"1896 — Emotion of fear from shouting of the word "snakes,"1896

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Taking involuntary deep breath while solving multiplication problem, 1879 — Taking involuntary deep breath while solving multiplication problem, 1879

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Young lady, 28, much debilitated by prolonged mental work, the entertainment of company, and the cares of a large household, 1874 — Young lady, 28, much debilitated by prolonged mental work, the entertainment of company, and the cares of a large household, 1874

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Eating Chocolate 1912 — Eating Chocolate 1912

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Happy, 1912 — Happy, 1912

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Ear lightly touched with feather while sleeping, 1877 — Ear lightly touched with feather while sleeping, 1877

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Young boy, dreaming, 1877 — Young boy, dreaming, 1877

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), A hard drinker, quite recently a sufferer of sunstroke, 1874 — A hard drinker, quite recently a sufferer of sunstroke, 1874

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Heart disease, 1854 — Heart disease, 1854

Dario Robleto

2017

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Quickened irregular pulse due to sudden failure of the heart, 1902 — Quickened irregular pulse due to sudden failure of the heart, 1902

Dario Robleto

2017

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

Olga Bing

1917

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

Olga Bing

1917

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

Olga Bing

1917

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

Olga Bing

1917

Elizabeth Layton (1909–1993), The Magic Gate — The Magic Gate

Elizabeth Layton

1987

Elizabeth Layton (1909–1993), Woman's Suffrage — Woman's Suffrage

Elizabeth Layton

1977

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Sparrows Sing to an Indifferent Sea — Sparrows Sing to an Indifferent Sea

Dario Robleto

2019

Dario Robleto (born 1972), Methuselah in Her Cradle — Methuselah in Her Cradle

Dario Robleto

2019

Sebald Beham (1500–1550), Death and the Lady — Death and the Lady

Sebald Beham

1541

unrecorded Potawatomi artist, medical bag — medical bag

unrecorded Potawatomi artist

circa 1890

unrecorded Ibibio artist, possible idiok mask — possible idiok mask

unrecorded Ibibio artist

early 1900s–1967

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

unrecorded Hopi artist

late 1800s–1999

Renée Stout (born 1958), Root Chart #1 — Root Chart #1

Renée Stout

2006

Elizabeth Layton (1909–1993), Fear — Fear

Elizabeth Layton

November 4, 1981

Jane Bunker (born 1945), Genesis — Genesis

Jane Bunker

2005

Renée Stout (born 1958); Pyramid Atlantic (founded 1981), Seduction Coat — Seduction Coat

Renée Stout, Pyramid Atlantic

2005

Elizabeth Layton (1909–1993), Raggedy Ann and Andy on the Shelf — Raggedy Ann and Andy on the Shelf

Elizabeth Layton

1979

Peter G. Thompson (1939–2025), Entry - Frame — Entry - Frame

Peter G. Thompson

2012

Peter G. Thompson (1939–2025), Frame — Frame

Peter G. Thompson

2014

Peter G. Thompson (1939–2025), Consultation room / Surgery — Consultation room / Surgery

Peter G. Thompson

2009

Philip Heying (born 1959), Repurposed billboard west of Salina, Kansas along I-70 7/13/2014 – 1:40PM — Repurposed billboard west of Salina, Kansas along I-70 7/13/2014 – 1:40PM

Philip Heying

2014

Gina Westergard (born 1962), Eclipse — Eclipse

Gina Westergard

2005

Ruth Cuthand (born 1953), Reserving: Tuberculosis — Reserving: Tuberculosis

Ruth Cuthand

2018

Hermann-Paul (1864–1940), L'Infirmière (The Nurse) — L'Infirmière (The Nurse)

Hermann-Paul

1914–1918