Drawing of Homunculus, 1694
Illustration of the concept of the homunculus, after a drawing by Nicolaas Hartsoeker in 1694. In the late 17th century, the ovists believed that the egg of a given organism contained a tiny version of that organism. This view persisted until the discovery of spermatozoa by van Leeuwenhoek in 1677. Thereafter, the concept of the homunculus became favoured, where a tiny but complete being existed within spermatozoa (or animalcules as they were then known). The animalculist view was first proposed by Nicolaas Hartsoeker (1656-1725). Debate between the ovists and animalculists continued throughout the 18th century.
Size: 2400px × 3858px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1600s, 1694, 17th, animalcule, art, artwork, bw, century, drawing, egg, engraving, genetics, hartsoeker, historic, historical, history, homunculus, human, illustration, medical, medicine, ova, ovum, reproductive, sperm, spermatozoa, system
