Medicine and the phenomenon of microscopic anatomy (histology) in the western art

Art, science and medicine are the three interconnected phenomenons which have survived from the antiquity until the present day. Medicine, Science and Technology together with Art which is the expression of aesthetic values are the cultural components that have the common features of the creative power of humankind within themselves. Hippocrates who is recognized as the father of medicine is the first person saying that medicine is art. Similarly, Leonardo da Vinci is acknowledged as the Renaissance Master who has a bearing on both art and science. Medicine appears to be jointed to human life more than ever in 20th century and the principal fact is seen to be the "human health and medical applications" in this century. Art that is seen as the human life itself is in a close relationship with medicine. At this point the existence of people who are not only doctors or surgeons but also paint and are interested in art between 1900-1950 in the West attracts attention. Besides it is seen that many artists employ medical elements in their works. It is known that Dutch scientist Zacharias Janssen invented a simple microscope which consists of two lenses in 1590. It also appears that medical developments like the invention of the microscope and the discovery of x-rays have been reflected in art and microscope and the photographs of the x-rays have been used as teaching elements in the Bauhaus School. Many artists with the impression of these images such as Kandinsky and Klee have tried to picture the depth of the human body in their works. This thesis aims to examine how art makes use of scientific thought and materials. It is investigated how microscopic anatomy, microorganisms, embryological and zoological forms are transformed in the works of the artists.