Monsieur Le Medicin 1771

Henry William Bunbury created "Monsieur Le Medicin," a print dating to 1772, now held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The composition and lines create a satirical mood through caricature. The doctor is rendered with an elongated face, exaggerated features, and a towering wig, undermining the perception of medical authority. The exaggerated lines and shapes challenge conventional ideas of decorum and respectability. He carries an array of medical accouterments that contrast with his absurd figure. Bunbury employs semiotic elements to mock the medical profession. The text at the bottom is part of the construction of the image as satire: the formal elements, along with the title, all contribute to critique the values and assumptions of 18th-century society. The artwork functions as a cultural critique, questioning fixed roles and engaging with broader themes of social satire and representation.