Portret van een onbekende man met een armprothese before 1866

This photograph of an unknown man with an arm prosthesis was made by Malespine in France, some time in the mid-19th century. It’s a matter-of-fact image, typical of medical photography at the time. The photograph’s visual impact comes from the contrast between the man’s exposed torso and the mechanical device attached to his arm. In 19th century Europe, there was a growing interest in science and medicine. Institutions like hospitals and universities were expanding their research. Photography was one of the tools used in this process. This image would have been part of that world, created to document medical procedures. It reflects how medicine was becoming more specialized and technological. The study of visual culture, the history of science, and the cultural history of medicine can help us better understand its context. This photograph reminds us that art, even in its most functional form, is always shaped by the society that creates it.