Victorian Microscopic Transparencies Illuminate at Osh Gallery

In London, Osh Gallery is showcasing 58 large transparencies created by Victorian scientist Charles Thomas Hudson for his lectures on microscopic life. Each piece, measuring 37.8 by 29.5 inches, features painted paper with pinhole perforations, illustrating organisms such as rotifers, algae, protozoa, and marine species. When illuminated from behind, these works unveil vivid, intricate images of creatures including mayfly larvae and sea slugs. Hudson, who served as President of the Royal Microscopical Society and was a Fellow of the Royal Society, is highlighted in this exhibition, which is curated by Luke Powell and Jody Hudson-Powell of Pentagram, and will be on display until June 11. The transparencies exemplify the intersection of art and science during the 19th century.