techniques

In November 2008, IM (Illustrating Medicine) held a workshop series at the BMC.

Here are the videos available for download (MPG-4/.mov).

Nick Woolridge - IM Workshop [part 1]

Nick Woolridge - IM Workshop [part 2]

Margot B. Mackay - IM Workshop [part 1]

Margot B. Mackay - IM Workshop [part 2]

Margot B. Mackay - IM Workshop [part 3]

Dave Mazierski - IM Workshop [part 1]

Dave Mazierski - IM Workshop [part 2]

Dave Mazierski - IM Workshop [part 3]

Grant’s Atlas significantly transformed the teaching of anatomy in the 1940’s because of the way that the Atlas organized and depicted the anatomical process in ways that were distinct from either the Spalteholz or Sobotta Atlases. Grant’s Atlas portrayed the body as series of regions rather than a system. Grant deployed photographic tracings for more “objective” renderings of the body. The Atlas emphasized illustration over textual descriptions. Grant  adopted English, rather than Latin, as the language of the caption, and finally the Atlas was published as a single text, rather than two separate volumes, rendering it ‘portable.’

The collection furnishes an exemplary case study to reflect upon the connections between art and medicine, transformations in the production of the printed textbook, innovations in techniques of medical illustration with the introduction of new technologies (such as photography), the gendering of medical knowledge, and the specific role of the hand-drawn illustration in “picturing” or imaging the body.

The original  illustrators who collaborated with Dr. Grant on the Atlas of Anatomy used 3 primary techniques to visualize the body: carbon dusting; wash; pen and ink.

Carbon-dusting.

A technique that is quite unique to medical illustrators. This sample was made by Dorothy Chubb, the first illustrator engaged by Grant to work on the Atlas, produced many beautiful carbon-dust images.

Wash.

A form of water-colour. These samples were produced by Nancy Joy who learned the technique at the University of Chicago under the mentorship of Tom Jones.

Pen and Ink.