Schouderoperatie 1659 - 1740

"Schouderoperatie" (Shoulder Operation) is an etching by Dutch artist Jan van der Bruggen, dating from between 1659 and 1740. The print depicts a gruesome scene, with a man writhing in pain as a surgeon performs a shoulder operation. The patient's contorted face and the surgeon's cold, focused expression highlight the brutality of surgery in the 17th century. Van der Bruggen's meticulous detail captures the tools of the trade and the cluttered atmosphere of a typical surgical room. This etching is a compelling example of Dutch genre painting, which often depicted everyday life in a realistic and often humorous way.