La Autopsia
Painted in 1890 by Enrique Simonet, this image showcases the infatuation, beauty, and intrigue of the dead and the internal components of the human body. Here a dissectionist stands over a romanticized female corpse, studying her heart. I argue that Simonet allows the dead to retain a level of subjectivity. She is vibrant, given color by both her hair and the single source of light from the window. There is a life on the table, not an object to be commanded or used. Her sacrifice, her death, is noble and the stoic representation of the dissectionist reflects the solemnity of the act.
