Birth Figures: Early Modern Prints and the Pregnant Body

Birth figures are printed images of the pregnant womb that depict the variety of ways in which a fetus can present for birth. They originated in ancient medicine and were widely produced in medieval gynecological manuscripts. Rebecca Whiteley's book explores their creation, use, and impact, revealing how they shaped how the pregnant body was known and treated and were deeply entangled with wider cultural preoccupations with generation and creativity, female power and agency, knowledge and its dissemination, and the condition of the human in the universe.

Format: Hardback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 23 February 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Birth figures are a remarkable collection of printed images that depict the various ways in which a fetus can present itself during childbirth. These images, often shown in series, have been studied extensively by historian Rebecca Whiteley, who coined the term "birth figures." In this comprehensive analysis, Whiteley delves into the creation, usage, and profound impact of these images.

Birth figures have their origins in ancient medicine, where they were used to educate and inform medical practitioners about the anatomy and physiology of pregnancy. Over time, they found their way into medieval gynecological manuscripts, where they were used to illustrate and explain complex childbirth procedures. However, it was during the mid-sixteenth to mid-eighteenth century that birth figures truly flourished. This period witnessed a significant surge in the production and dissemination of printed midwifery and surgical books in Western Europe.

Birth figures played a crucial role in the visual culture of medicine and midwifery during this time. They were widely produced and distributed, reaching a wide audience, including learned physicians, midwives, and even illiterate listeners. These images helped to shape how people perceived and understood pregnancy, childbirth, and the female body. They provided crucial bodily knowledge to midwives and surgeons, enabling them to perform their duties with greater expertise and confidence.

Birth figures were deeply intertwined with broader cultural preoccupations with generation and creativity, female power and agency, knowledge and its dissemination, and even the condition of the human in the universe. They reflected and shaped how the pregnant body was known and treated, challenging traditional notions of femininity and authority. By providing a visual representation of the pregnant womb, birth figures helped to demystify the mysteries of pregnancy and childbirth, making them more accessible and understandable to a wider audience.

Birth Figures explores the diverse perspectives of different groups of people who engaged with midwifery manuals. It sheds light on how different kinds of individuals, including learned physicians, midwives, and lay readers, understood childbirth and utilized midwifery manuals. The study reveals the importance of birth figures in shaping how midwifery was practiced and in how people envisioned and understood the mysterious state of pregnancy.

Birth figures continue to be a valuable source of historical and cultural information today. They provide a window into the past, allowing us to understand how childbirth was perceived and practiced in different times and cultures. They also offer insights into the broader social and cultural contexts in which they were produced and consumed. By studying birth figures, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the complex relationships between medicine, midwifery, and the human body, as well as the broader cultural and societal forces that shaped them.

In conclusion, Birth Figures is a groundbreaking study that offers a comprehensive analysis of birth figures and their place in early modern knowledge-making. Through her meticulous research and insightful analysis, Rebecca Whiteley has shed light on the creation, usage, and profound impact of these images. Birth figures played a crucial role in shaping how people perceived and understood pregnancy, childbirth, and the female body, and they were deeply entangled with wider cultural preoccupations with generation and creativity, female power and agency, knowledge and its dissemination, and even the condition of the human in the universe. This vital history reveals the importance of birth figures in how midwifery was practiced and in how people, both medical professionals and lay readers, envisioned and understood the mysterious state of pregnancy.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226823126