Artwork
Muscular tissue of the upper extremities
Muscular tissue of the upper extremities is a drawing by H.G, Wetselaar. It dates from 1971 and is held in the collection of the Leiden University Libraries. Created in 1971 by H.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1971 by H.G. Wetselaar, “Muscular tissue of the upper extremities” is a detailed anatomical illustration housed in the Museum of Ethnography. The image presents a comprehensive view of the muscles, tendons, and skeletal landmarks of the human arm and shoulder, serving as a visual reference for the structure of the upper limb.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing concentrates on the anatomical relationships of the arm, depicting the bulk of the deltoid, biceps, triceps, forearm flexors and extensors, and the connective tendons that cross the elbow. By rendering the hand in a partially opened position, the artist exposes the forearm tendons, emphasizing functional pathways rather than aesthetic considerations.
Technique & Style
Executed with tight, precise line work, the illustration employs cross‑hatching to convey volume and depth, giving the musculature a three‑dimensional appearance. The rendering prioritizes exactitude, mirroring the conventions of medical illustration in the early 1970s, where clarity and anatomical correctness outweighed expressive brushwork.
History & Provenance
Wetselaar produced the work as part of a series of scientific drawings intended for educational use. Since its creation, the piece has remained in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as an example of mid‑twentieth‑century anatomical documentation.
Artist & collection
Artist
H.G. Wetselaar spent his days hunched over microscopes in a quiet Leiden lab, sketching what most people ignore. His pencil caught the raw architecture of bodies we pretend are smooth—like the knotted muscles of a…
