From Print to Wool: Vesalius and the ‘Knit your own womb’ Movement

The womb has been represented in many ways across Western European history, from miracle to sewer. This chapter begins with some of the earliest ways of showing the womb in printed materials. It then looks at what happens when different physical media are used to portray this and other body parts, focusing in particular on the impact of wool and similar materials in making the womb not only more approachable for women but also a potential political tool in claiming women’s rights.