Kwakzalver en een boer en boerin 1645 - 1941

Adriaen van Ostade etched this work, "Quack and a Farmer and a Wife", where we see a traveling quack doctor engaging with peasants. Notice his tall hat. It’s not just a covering but a beacon, signaling his profession. These charlatans, as they were often seen, peddled their wares and promises in town squares, a practice stretching back to antiquity. The image evokes the archetype of the wandering healer. Think of the ancient Greek medicine men or the traveling apothecaries of the Middle Ages. The basket he carries, likely filled with dubious remedies, echoes the cornucopia of classical art. This symbol, originally representing abundance, is here twisted, suggesting the false promises of health. Such figures tap into a deep-seated human desire for healing, a vulnerability that transcends time. Even today, we see echoes of this in advertisements promising miracle cures. The quack's presence, therefore, isn't just a historical curiosity but a mirror reflecting our ongoing dance with hope and deception.