Patiënt lijdend aan de huidziekte 'trichophytosis capitis' before 1881

This photograph, part of a medical textbook, documents a patient suffering from trichophytosis capitis, a fungal infection. The image is a photogravure, a process involving etching a copper plate and using it to make a print. Photogravure was often used for reproducing photographs because it allowed for a wide range of tones and fine detail. The texture of the paper and ink, along with the monochromatic palette, give the image a clinical yet strangely beautiful quality. The choice of photogravure speaks to a specific moment in the history of medical documentation. Before color photography became widespread, techniques like this were crucial for capturing the nuances of skin conditions. The image-making process itself becomes a tool for observation, requiring a specific kind of labor to make this visible.