Man Seen from the Rear, Ecorché and Dissected, Except for the Right Arm and Face, Kneeling on a Bench

For centuries in Europe, people interested in the inner workings of the human body depended on the writings of the ancient Greek scholar Galen (129–ca. 216 CE). Critical examination of Galen’s ideas began in the Islamic world and continued in Italy during the Renaissance, where knowledge of human anatomy was revolutionized with the systematic dissection of cadavers. These discoveries were spread through the writings of Andreas Vesalius (1514–1564), whose publications included accurate, finely detailed illustrations.

By the 18th century, new printing techniques that allowed the addition of color enabled artists to create even more literal anatomical illustrations. This print was made by Jacques-Fabien Gautier d’Agoty, an 18th-century anatomist, engraver, and entrepreneur. Gautier produced anatomical illustrations of great richness of color and texture. Early in his career, he drafted illustrations while at public anatomy demonstrations in Paris; later, he performed dissections himself. The figure here is vaguely unsettling, posing as if still alive, accommodating the viewer by holding a flap of his flayed skin to allow us to see the anatomy of his foot.