Kwakzalver 1545 - 1608

"Kwakzalver" (Quack) is an etching by Pieter van der Borcht the Elder, depicting a quack doctor performing a demonstration with a monkey assistant. The scene, likely set in a market square, shows the quack performing a medical treatment on a patient. The etching, created between 1545 and 1608, is a satirical commentary on the quackery prevalent in 16th-century society. The detail-rich scene with numerous figures and a theatrical backdrop adds to the sense of realism and commentary on societal issues. The etching is now housed in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.