Twee epileptici en hun begeleiders op weg naar Molenbeek 1642

Curator: Here we have an engraving titled "Twee epileptici en hun begeleiders op weg naar Molenbeek" – "Two epileptics and their handlers on their way to Molenbeek." It was created around 1642 by Hendrick Hondius I and resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My goodness, the raw emotion jumps right off the page. You see their desperate expressions and the frantic postures, particularly of those seemingly afflicted. It really makes you wonder what's unfolding here. Curator: Absolutely. The image portrays a group journeying towards Molenbeek, which was a place known for its association with treating illnesses, including epilepsy. This image serves as documentation of socio-medical practices, hinting at the perceived therapeutic powers certain locations held in that era. Editor: It's fascinating how deeply ingrained this concept of seeking out a holy place, or special site is for healing is woven into our cultural history. Notice how the faces are contorted, almost mirroring the wild growth of the trees around them. Is there some intentional symbolism at play do you think with this wild surrounding landscape, and the very clear expressions of distress? Curator: Undoubtedly. Epilepsy at the time was often viewed with fear, superstition and religious awe. These sufferers were regarded differently depending on cultural and religious perspectives, even possessed or divinely touched, at times. This prints participates in a much wider pictorial vocabulary about health, disability and exclusion. Editor: Yes! And given the history and the visual evidence, the handlers supporting them could be viewed with compassion but also perhaps some amount of dread – depending on if one ascribes to a sort of divinely touched interpretation or as "other." Curator: Precisely. Molenbeek was thought to possess a specific sacred efficacy. In those days, people undertook pilgrimages hoping for healing; this was interwoven into social beliefs and religious practices of the era. This piece encapsulates folk remedies meeting formally sanctioned healing, illustrating societal concepts of disease. Editor: What I'm especially drawn to is how it encapsulates an echo through time; you can sense both hope and desperation as strong elements that remain powerful today. It reminds us about seeking help in the face of the unknown. Curator: Indeed. The image reminds us that health, perception, and hope intertwine inextricably with the social, cultural, and institutional histories that make us who we are.