Patiënt lijdend aan de huidziekte 'sarcoma pigmentosum' before 1881

This photographic print from an unidentified source depicts a patient suffering from sarcoma pigmentosum. In the image, the male figure is presented from three angles – front, side, and back – to offer a comprehensive view of the disease's manifestation on his body. Produced within the historical context of medical documentation, the image raises questions about representation, ethics, and identity. How does the photographic gaze influence our perception of illness and the individual experience of disease? It reflects the power dynamics inherent in medical observation. The unnamed patient is rendered vulnerable, his body becoming a site of study and scrutiny. Consider the intersections of gender, class, and health in shaping the patient's experience. How might his identity and social standing have influenced the care he received and the way his condition was understood? What does this image reveal about the societal attitudes toward disease, disability, and the human body?