Harley in Bethlem Royal Hospital 1778

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki created this etching, Harley in Bethlem Royal Hospital. It's a window into the social attitudes towards mental illness in 18th-century England. Set within the infamous Bethlem Hospital, also known as Bedlam, we see a scene of well-dressed visitors observing a patient, the “Harley” of the title. This work offers a glimpse into the institutional history of mental health care. Back then, hospitals like Bedlam were as much public spectacles as places of healing. The image prompts us to consider the power dynamics at play. Who gets to observe and who is observed? How does this voyeuristic gaze reinforce social hierarchies? Chodowiecki’s etching critiques these practices. It invites us to question the ethics of institutionalizing and displaying those deemed “mad.” To fully understand this image, we can delve into archival records about Bethlem Hospital, studies on 18th-century social mores, and the history of psychiatry. This etching serves as a reminder that art is deeply embedded in its social and institutional context.