Pillenverkoper 1731

Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich created this etching, Pillenverkoper, whose date is unknown, with etching. Dietrich, working in the 18th century, navigated the complex social hierarchies of his time as a court painter, and also as someone deeply influenced by Dutch Masters. Here, we see a peddler, a figure often on the margins of society, offering his wares. The scene is intimate, almost clandestine, hinting at a world where healthcare was a transaction between individuals, rather than a right. Consider the power dynamics at play: the peddler, a mobile figure, versus the settled residents. Who has access to what kind of care? Where do class and mobility intersect with health and well-being? Dietrich doesn’t give us easy answers, but invites us to reflect on these questions. This etching captures a moment of exchange, but also a broader commentary on society's structures and our shared humanity.