Dentist 1809

Editor: This is "Dentist" by Anton Heinrich Riedel. The engraver's meticulous work emphasizes the figures, contrasting the imposing dentist with the dejected patient. What can you tell me about its social context? Curator: Notice how Riedel positions the dentist, elevated and adorned in fur. This isn't just about healthcare; it's about power and social perception. How do you think the artist’s depiction of the dentist and his profession might affect the contemporary audience’s perception? Editor: It seems like it may have been meant to criticize the social standing of dentists at the time? Curator: Precisely! The print comments on the perception of professions and societal hierarchies. The dentist is powerful, the patient is at his whim. The art becomes a socio-political reflection. Editor: I never considered that! The class implications are really interesting.