Lægen i Nød-Fald 1742 - 1809

"Lægen i Nød-Fald" (The Doctor in an Emergency) is a satirical print by Johann Gottlieb Friedrich, created between 1742 and 1809. The print depicts a blacksmith using tongs to pull a tooth from a patient's mouth, while another man holds the patient's head. The scene is set in a blacksmith's shop with a blazing fire in the background. The inscription below the image reads "Dear Smith! Save my young man's teeth," highlighting the absurdity of the situation. The print is a social commentary on the state of dentistry in the 18th century, where blacksmiths often doubled as dentists due to the lack of trained medical professionals. It is a satirical commentary on the lack of qualified medical professionals in the 18th century, emphasizing the reliance on blacksmiths for even basic medical procedures. This humorous print, part of a larger series, is now part of the collection of the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst.