Vrouw met een tumor in het gebied van de oorspeekselklier before 1884

Here is a spread from an unattributed book of medical photography. The left panel depicts a woman with a tumor on her parotid gland, captured after the initial scab has fallen off, and the right, a portrait taken two years post-recovery. In the 19th century, medical photography emerged as a tool for scientific documentation, yet it also reveals power dynamics within society. The woman's identity is stripped away; she is presented as a medical case rather than an individual, reflecting a common practice where the bodies of women, the poor, and the marginalized were often objectified for the advancement of scientific knowledge. While the images aim for clinical detachment, there is a stark emotional undercurrent. The vulnerability of the woman is palpable, contrasting with the supposed objectivity of the medical gaze. These images, therefore, challenge us to consider the ethical implications of representation, especially when it involves the most intimate and personal aspects of human experience. They remind us that every image is a construct, shaped by societal biases and power structures.