Kwakzalver 1767 - 1780

Bernhard Schreuder created this watercolor drawing, entitled ‘Quack,’ sometime before 1780. It illustrates a traveling salesman, offering elixirs to treat various ailments. It's fascinating to consider this image within the context of 18th-century Dutch society. We see a stark contrast between the traveling medicine peddler and his credulous audience. The seller is dressed like a Commedia dell'Arte performer, while the townsfolk appear to be more plainly dressed peasants. Consider how anxieties about public health and the distribution of medical knowledge might have fueled the popularity of such images. It raises questions about the role of charlatans exploiting vulnerable populations, and how cultural institutions like art academies may have promoted certain medical remedies over others. As historians, we can delve into period medical texts, pamphlets, and legal documents to understand the social and institutional context that shaped both the production and reception of this image. The history of medicine and the history of art are deeply intertwined.