Patiënten vallen dokter aan 1864 - 1902

"Patiënten vallen dokter aan" is a black ink drawing by Jeremias Adriaan Adolf Schill, which currently resides in the Rijksmuseum. Created in a tumultuous period marked by significant advancements in medicine, the piece highlights the complex relationship between doctors and their patients. The doctor's grimacing face conveys feelings of helplessness amidst a crowd of ghoulish figures. Are these apparitions literal representations of the dead, or symbolic of the doctor's failures? Are the skeletons and ghostly figures attacking the doctor or pleading for assistance? The syringe wielded by one of the figures becomes a symbol of both healing and harm, embodying the anxieties surrounding medical intervention. This artwork offers a glimpse into societal fears and anxieties surrounding the medical profession. It reflects the cultural landscape of the time and invites us to consider the human aspects of healthcare.