Oeuvres philosophiques, médicales, posthumes et complètes / du docteur Cloetboom 1857

This is the title page of "Oeuvres philosophiques, médicales, posthumes et complètes / du docteur Cloetboom" printed in Brussels by the Librairie polytechnique d'Auguste Decq in 1857. This book cover captures a moment in the mid-19th century, a time marked by significant advancements in science and medicine, alongside persistent social inequalities. On the left we see an illustration of a woman in a bonnet sitting on a chair. The bonnet, an emblem of female domesticity, also hints at the woman’s restricted role in intellectual and public life. The positioning of the figure with her back to us could be seen as a metaphor for the limited recognition afforded to women in the fields of philosophy and medicine. The work prompts a dialogue about the historical exclusion of women from intellectual spheres. The doctor's works reflect the complex interplay between intellectual endeavor, societal expectations, and the personal experiences that shape our understanding of the world.