Musculoskeletal system of an embryo
1967
From the collection of Leiden University Libraries
1967
From the collection of Leiden University Libraries
This drawing shows the bones and muscles of a tiny human body, still curled inside what looks like a womb. The spine is visible as a curved line down the back, with ribs fanning out like a fan. Arms and legs stick out at odd angles, and the fingers and toes are just starting to form. The artist used shading to show depth, making some parts look solid and others almost see-through. It’s like an X-ray but drawn by hand, revealing how everything fits together before birth. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists create shading with lines.
