Zieke man wordt verzorgd door drie figuren 1798

Andreas Bernardus de Quertenmont created this print, "Sick Man Being Cared for by Three Figures," as the frontispiece for a medical treatise published in Antwerp. Reflecting the era’s understanding of the body, the print illustrates a very intimate moment. A vulnerable, ill man is surrounded and tended to by three figures. In the 18th century, medicine existed at a crossroads of scientific inquiry and social practice. The image encapsulates the professionalizing field of medicine and perhaps reinforces the importance of care, very literally foregrounding the relationship between practitioner and patient. The Latin inscription "Occidit, qui non servat" translates to "He kills, who does not save," and presents a moral imperative to preserve life. Although medical illustrations often focused on detached observation, this print suggests an emotional connection between the caregivers and the patient, highlighting a moment of human vulnerability and the social dimensions of health.