Huiduitslag op een baby, veroorzaakt door syfilis c. 1860 - 1868

This photograph of a baby's skin rash, caused by syphilis, was created by A. de Montméja. It is part of a medical textbook, a very different context for photography than we might usually consider. During the Victorian era, photography emerged as a tool of documentation, playing a crucial role in the medical field. It allowed for detailed records of patients, diseases, and medical procedures, contributing to the advancement of medical knowledge. Yet this image reminds us that photographic processes themselves are not neutral. The photograph’s sharp focus and careful composition, combined with the gravitas of the book format, subtly reinforce a message of scientific authority. The image participates in social control, by presenting a certain truth about disease and the body, framed by the conventions of medical practice. So, next time you consider the power of photography, remember its deep entanglement with social and political forces.