The German physiologist Wilhelm Friedrich Kühne (1837–1900) coined the term rhodopsin for the pigment that is responsible for both the formation of the photoreceptor cells and the first events in the perception of light.
In 1878 he did a fascinating experiment. He covered a rabbit’s head to allow the rhodopsin to accumulate in the rods. Then it was uncovered and positioned toward a barred window. After a three-minute exposure, the animal was decapitated and the eyeball removed. He then ‘fixed’ the retina with a solution to prevent it from being resynthesized. The next day, Kühne was able to see a picture of the window and bars printed upon the retina:
Retinal Photograph, drawn by Willy Kühne, 1878
July 23, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Dude. I used to have a rabbit. That’s fucked up–I wish I thought of it.
July 23, 2007 at 10:53 pm
I’m alternately fascinated and horrified. Mostly horrified. No, fascinated. Argh! I believe they call this cognitive dissonance.
July 23, 2007 at 11:15 pm
Wow. I mean, wow. That, my friend, is awesome.
Wow.
July 23, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Man, talk about Schadenfreude.
Interesting that the retinal photograph was “drawn” by Willy Kuehn. Brings up all kinds of references to the historical relationship between painting and photography, not to mention more contemporary themes of authorship or even appropriation (yikes). Maybe I’m reading to much into this, but is that a latticed window?
July 24, 2007 at 1:43 am
Thats some serious stuff…
Digital vs. Analog INDEED!
July 24, 2007 at 3:47 am
There was, in Victorian times if I recall correctly, the belief that the last thing a person saw was recorded on the retina. I believe that, and the story may well be apocryphal as I can, in a quick check of sources, not find confirmation, that one of the women who was a victim of Jack the Ripper had her retina’s photographed to see if anything could be found.
Interesting to see there is some basis to the belief.
And as danden has said, interesting it is a latticed window…….
July 24, 2007 at 6:31 am
Maybe not the best for sports photography.
July 24, 2007 at 6:35 am
Yeah, but it’d have been so much better if he’d washed the rabbit’s head in coffee.
July 24, 2007 at 7:48 am
well, kuehne did the same experience with a man sentenced to death.. the result is what is called an optograph, the last image inprinted on the retina of a dead person.
July 24, 2007 at 7:54 am
wasn’t that part of the ‘plot’ for that will smith movie wild wild west?
July 24, 2007 at 9:16 am
Bill Jay’s article “In the Eyes of the Dead: Retinal Photography in the 19th Century” is available to be downloaded on his website here:
http://www.billjayonphotography.com/writings.html
July 24, 2007 at 10:17 am
i wonder if it’s possible with human eyes.. i wonder if the germans wondered too
July 24, 2007 at 10:27 am
ot - but are there ansel adams pictures on this site ? - i heard something had been done with them and would quite like to see them, cheers.
July 24, 2007 at 10:29 am
Better hope some collector (does Dr. Evil collect photography?) doesn’t decide he wants he first and last “Alec Soth Retinagraph”. (Would this be an edition of 2, or 2 Artist Proofs?)
July 24, 2007 at 10:34 am
Paul, I only have eyes for you.
Dacian, Christian already covered this here.
Here is an example of Large Format:
July 24, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Alec, if this has anything to do with the print swap we’ve been talking about, you can just forget it. Keep your eyes to yourself, thank you.
(actually, I wouldn’t mind having Alec’s eyes for a few days….)
BTW, I’ve remembered that Dr. Evil does, indeed, collect photographs. I think my former dealer sold him some of mine.
July 24, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Wow indeed! Even as fiction this would be amazing. Since the image looks like a drawing, is there still an original somewhere?
A bit off topic, but interesting, is this:
4800-Year-Old Artificial Eyeball Discovered in Burnt City
http://www.cais-soas.com/News/2006/December2006/11-12.htm
July 24, 2007 at 9:16 pm
Alec Soth advocates rabbit murder! I’m shocked and horrified!
July 25, 2007 at 1:33 am
phew!! its good to be here for a moment…
mad scientist…dipped in coffee…German chocalate eyeballs…
September 27, 2007 at 12:28 pm
There was a great X Files episode titled “Unruhe” about a murderer who was able to capture a victim’s last sight on a previsualized Polaroid. Almost nabbed Scully.
This is prime Bill Jay territory being charted here.