Zieke man wordt verzorgd door drie figuren 1798

Andreas Bernardus de Quertenmont created this print of a sick man being cared for by three figures sometime between 1750 and 1835. It presents us with a scene of intimate care, but its meaning is embedded in the social context of its time. Made in the Austrian Netherlands, this image likely reflects the growing emphasis on philanthropy and social responsibility during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. As traditional forms of community support weakened, new institutions and practices emerged to address poverty and illness. The figures attending the sick man, with their attentive gestures, embody the era’s evolving ideals of compassion. The presence of what appears to be a glass bottle implies medical intervention, reflecting the growth of medical knowledge. By examining historical records, charity reports, and medical texts, we can better understand this artwork as a document of its time.