Patiënten lijdend aan de huidziekte 'scabies' before 1881

These photographs of hands afflicted by scabies reveal more than just a medical condition; they tap into a primal fear of contagion and bodily suffering. The image presents the hand, once a symbol of creation and connection, now marred by disease. Consider the gesture of the open palm. Throughout history, it has signified peace, honesty, and supplication. Yet, here, the skin is disrupted by the tell-tale signs of scabies, conjuring images of medieval flagellants or plague victims, where skin eruptions symbolized divine punishment or societal breakdown. This motif echoes through art history, appearing in depictions of leprosy in religious art. There is also the "Hand of God" motif, typically depicted as a divine hand reaching down from the heavens to bestow blessings. Here, the symbolism is inverted, a profane image in place of the divine. The emotional weight of this image resides in its power to engage our subconscious anxieties about health, mortality, and social ostracism. It reminds us that, despite our advancements, humanity remains vulnerable to the ravages of disease.