Infographic: Representations of Microscopic Images in the Victorian Era

 

Advances in lens-making technology in the early 1800s brought a whole new world into view for science enthusiasts—with better lenses came cheaper microscopes, so that cells, tissues, and even multicellular microorganisms could suddenly be seen in the comfort of one’s home. An industry of microscope slide-makers sprang up to feed this new demand, and as they searched for the best way to thin-slice a kidney or mount a cluster of diatoms, they advanced the science of microscopy while creating objects of unusual beauty. Here, selections from the collection of Howard Lynk, a hobbyist who researches the slide-makers of the 1840s-1860s, show some highlights of their oeuvre.  Seed Magazine