Tandentrekker 1837 - 1840

Carel Christiaan Antony Last created this print, Tandentrekker, using lithography. The nature of lithography, printing from a prepared stone, lends itself to detailed figuration, as we see in this rather grim scene. This isn't an image of fine art or nobility. Instead, we see an itinerant dentist extracting a tooth in public, his patient writhing in pain. The crowd's watching with morbid curiosity. It’s a scene of everyday life depicted through a process that allows for mass production. Consider the labor involved, not just of the dentist and the poor patient, but also the artist. This print wasn't quickly dashed off. The finely rendered figures and tonal variations suggest careful, skilled work. Last has elevated a commonplace event through his artistry, reminding us that all aspects of life are worthy of consideration. It shows us the value of craft and the dignity of labor, whether that be in the dentist’s chair, or at the lithographer's stone.