Foetus 18 Weeks: the greatest photograph of the 20th century?

In the 1950s, photojournalist Lennart Nilsson set out to capture the earliest stages of existence. His foetus images seized the public imagination – and sparked a controversy that has raged ever sinceIn April 1965, Life magazine put a photograph called Foetus 18 Weeks on its cover and caused a sensation. The issue was a spectacular success, the fastest-selling copy in Life ’s entire history. In full colour and crystal clear detail, the picture showed a foetus in its amniotic sac, with its umbilical cord winding off to the placenta. The unborn child, floating in a seemingly cosmic backdrop, appears vulnerable yet serene. Its eyes are closed and its tiny, perfectly fo rmed fists are clutched to its chest.Capturing that most universal of subjects, our own creation, Foetus 18 Weeks was one of the 20th century ’s great photographs, as emotive as it was technically impressive, even by today’s standards. And its impact was enormous, growing into something its creator struggled to control, as the image was hijacked by the fledgling anti-abortion movement.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Photography Pregnancy Reproduction Parents and parenting Women Culture Reproductive rights Abortion Health & wellbeing Family Art and design Life and style Society Magazines Newspapers Media Science Biology Source Type: news