Exploded Skull Art

By: Kayla Kandzorra

Some people might still be creeped out, but as an archaeologist I have an undying love of bones. (Get it?)

So naturally, I did some research on the 19th century French anatomist Claude Beauchene who developed an "exploded" cranium, by disarticulating and studying the human skull, as first introduced by Leonardo da Vinci. What I found was creepily beautiful.

Exploded Skull, Claude Beauchene.

There is not a lot of information about Beauchene, however bone-collector-turned-osteologist Ryan Matthew Cohn has since reintroduced this anatomical art form. 

Exploded Skull. Ryan Matthew Cohn.

With cats too...

Exploded Domestic Cat Cranium. Ryan Matthew Cohn.

There has always been a debate about the fine line between science and art, but I like to believe in a happy medium. So what do you think? Creepy or Cool?

Check out these links for more of Ryan Matthew Cohn's work:

http://ryanmatthewcohn.tumblr.com/

http://www.ryanmatthewoddities.com/