De Hvmani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem
One of the earliest printed anatomies, Andreas Vesalius's 1543* De Hvmani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem is literally translated as "The Fabric of the Human Body," and that is exactly what Vesalius wanted to examine. The history of the book's creation is detailed by writer Benjamin A. Rifkin, who makes note of the fact that Vesalius, an anatomy professor worked with an illustrationr named Jan Stefan van Kalkar. He created many of the woodcuts from viewing mounted skeletons.
Few and far between are images of women's bodies in this text, but one diagram of the female internal and external genitalia is featured. Here the abdomen is splayed open so that the appropriate parts can be labeled. What is fascinating, however, is that the body is posed in a classical contrapposto style despite being mostly limbless and headless. Also, even given the headlessness, a styled lock of hair trails gently over the amputated shoulder, perhaps signfying that this is a woman, though one should expect the visible breasts and vulva should signal that as well. Even with an open abdomen, lack of limbs, and no head, conventional beauty stylings will always reveal a woman.
* This edition was printed in 1568 by Apud F. Franciscium Venetiis and I. Criegher.