"Of a louse," in Robert Hooke, Micrographia: or, Some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies Made by Magnifying Glasses (London, 1665)
Hooke's Micrographia is a detailed compilation of his observations of a variety of miniscule objects. Each description offers not only qualitative and quantitative observations but also reflects on the relationship between these subjects and humans. This plate portrays a tiny louse at a magnified scale published in a plate so large that it exceeded the original dimensions of the book and had to be folded. Hooke used the engravings in his publication to share his findings in a compelling, accurate, and credible manner. (DP)
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