Keisnijder (het Gevoel) 1659 - 1740

Curator: It looks… intensely uncomfortable. Editor: Indeed. Let’s consider Jan van der Bruggen’s "Keisnijder (het Gevoel)," dating roughly from 1659 to 1740. The medium here is an engraving, and what immediately grabs your attention is this powerful, unflinching depiction of what I'm presuming to be a street barber or quack “cutting for the stone.” Curator: The central image is arresting, there's no getting around it. But what cultural meanings might resonate? Beyond the obvious visual story? I imagine, for common folk, these practices held an almost mythical power. How does this image play into broader societal anxieties about charlatanism and medicine during the Baroque era? Editor: I think we cannot discard that fear and the anxieties over charlatanism that prevailed. Visually, the image screams of both trust and terror, the exaggerated expressions create a theater of human experience, evoking a visceral empathy. The symbols of headwear, perhaps implying social status in the play of dominance? I am fascinated with the fact the person at pain seems to hold onto the hat to ease the pain. Curator: The artist clearly revels in rendering emotion. These graphic depictions were not just observations; they actively participated in shaping public discourse around healthcare at that time, raising very palpable and raw questions about ethics and efficacy. Think of broadsides that disseminated news and satire, this image belongs right there with a role of social critique! Editor: Precisely, the scene is reminiscent of theater. We have, on one hand, someone in an extremely vulnerable state subjected to an uninvited intrusion in the body and an unsolicited manipulation that causes pure agony; on the other hand, the aggressor or “specialist,” a dominant role performed by a grotesque yet sure demeanor. But I agree with your point about these prints serving as accessible visual commentary for a wider audience on popular believes! Curator: Thinking of those anxieties and this widespread lack of medical expertise really gives context to art like this. And with a renewed interest in health today this piece creates such a link. Editor: Looking at the emotional symbolism and that immediate pain sensation gives me chills. Thank you.