The Early Years of Seeing the Unseen

22Nov08

Fragment of a Chronometric filmstrip of a running hen, 1894

While forward-looking scientists like Marey were using photography to understand, for example, how animals moved, as in this photo, others were less enthused about this new technology.

In particular, photographers’ ability to capture images beyond what the human eye could perceive called into question an important tenet of 19th century science.

X-ray of a foot in a shoe, 1897

The discovery of X-rays also touched off a lower-brow commercial craze. Within three months, DIY X-ray kits were available on the market. Photographers, who had access to most of the tools needed to make the images, began to train this new form of light on just about anything that might be beautiful.

X-ray of a hand with a ring, 1896

When William Roentgen announced his discovery of X-rays, a photo of his wife’s hand accompanied his paper as it made its way into the scientific community.

Over the next few years, images like this one of a skeletal hand with the ring came to symbolize X-rays. Practically, the hand is relatively flat and therefore easy to X-ray, but it was the aesthetics and grim-reaper symbolism that Keller said hit a nerve with the upper classes.

The rest of the Wired gallery.

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Tags: old, photography, science, x-rays