Patiënt lijdend aan de huidziekte 'trichophytosis corporis' before 1881

This image depicts a medical illustration of a patient suffering from trichophytosis corporis. Though the artist is unknown, the work invites contemplation on the representation of the human body in medical contexts. The composition centres on the affected skin area, rendered with clinical precision. The stark contrast between the diseased patch and the surrounding skin creates a disturbing visual imbalance. The formal elements—texture, tone, and line—operate within a structural binary of health versus disease. The image challenges our understanding of beauty, and confronts our gaze with the reality of physical suffering. The aesthetic experience is not one of pleasure, but rather a stark reminder of the body's fragility, destabilizing the established categories of art and medicine. Through its formal qualities, the work functions as a cultural artifact, prompting reflection on the historical and social contexts of medical representation. It is a site of ongoing interpretation, inviting us to consider the ethical and philosophical implications of visualizing illness.