The Oculist (plate 18) 1843

Curator: "The Oculist," plate 18 of Charles Jacque's series "Les Malades et les Médecins," produced in 1843, presents us with a lithograph now held at The Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: First thought? It’s delightfully dreadful. The scraggly lines and exaggerated features feel almost macabre, but with a definite wink. I feel like I’m peeking in on a shady deal in a Dickens novel. Curator: Indeed, the caricature is a prevalent theme here. It’s interesting to consider Jacque's intent within the context of 19th-century French society. These were times rife with skepticism towards the medical profession and the rise of quackery. Prints like this circulated widely, shaping public opinion. Editor: Absolutely! And that adds a layer, doesn’t it? This isn't just about two funny-looking dudes; it's a commentary. The supposed "oculist" looks like he’d be better off as a scarecrow. It’s humor, sure, but humor laced with social critique. Do you think people really believed in this kind of “instant cure”? Curator: Probably some did. The print's strength lies in exposing the gullibility that often accompanied desperation for cures, legitimate or not. But that oversized eye perched precariously above? Reminds me a bit of symbolist art to come decades later... Editor: You know, looking closer, that "eye" looks more like some alien sea creature gasping for air. Its got a creepy undercurrent running below the surface—I wouldn't trust that doctor as far as I can throw him. It is very evocative. Curator: Exactly! Jacque masterfully uses the graphic art medium to provoke and entertain. By making the flaws so glaringly obvious, Jacque subtly encouraged a critical, perhaps even cautious, stance towards those promising easy fixes. Editor: I hadn’t considered the intention to provoke wariness as much as just mockery, but that’s an interesting view on this lithograph’s function, for sure. Always a reminder of the layered meanings in even seemingly simple works. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Art offers infinite angles, each changing with perspective.