The Extraction of Tooth 1635

Editor: Here we have Gerrit Dou’s "The Extraction of a Tooth" from 1635, an oil painting depicting exactly that: a tooth extraction! There's definitely an unsettling feeling with the grimness of the scene, particularly how dark everything seems. What stands out to you when you look at it? Curator: It’s interesting how Dou situates this seemingly mundane medical procedure within a broader social critique. Consider the context: The Dutch Golden Age was burgeoning, yet access to even basic healthcare was often class-based. Do you notice how the wealthy man in the painting seems very detached? Editor: I do. He almost seems more interested in his coin. Is the "dentist" also part of that commentary? Curator: Precisely! What does his posture or expression suggest? Is this a trusted physician, or perhaps a less qualified practitioner capitalizing on people's needs, and also, their possible illiteracy or inability to understand medical best-practice? And what about the violin and skull in the background? Are they vanitas symbols reminding us of mortality, regardless of class? Editor: It could be a commentary on quackery versus genuine healing—a form of social commentary using a very personal, relatable scene. But does it always have to be negative? Couldn’t there be value even in that less-than-perfect care? Curator: That’s an interesting challenge! By asking who has access to quality care and why, Dou forces us to confront those very issues. How might different identities – race, gender, class – influence one’s experience within this narrative? It makes us question access and systemic issues within the field of care itself. Editor: I never would have considered such deep social layers from a simple tooth extraction. It’s empowering to know art can speak to those issues. Curator: Exactly. Dou invites us to critically examine power structures embedded in the most personal aspects of life. And the best art makes us rethink and re-evaluate.