Patiënt lijdend aan de huidziekte 'porrigo e pediculis' before 1881

This black and white photograph depicts the lower back and buttocks of a patient suffering from 'porrigo e pediculis,’ a skin disease. It was part of a medical textbook, and although the artist is anonymous, the context provides an insight into its creation. Such medical illustrations served a crucial function in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As visual records, these images educated physicians about a variety of diseases at a time when diagnosis relied heavily on observation. The clinical gaze objectifies the patient, reducing them to a case study. Yet, in our own time, these images also speak to broader social concerns around public health, sanitation, and the treatment of vulnerable populations. Delving into public health records and medical journals of the period helps us understand the social context of this image, and how medical knowledge was produced and disseminated. Through this type of historical research, we can understand the complex relationship between art, science, and society.