Armoperatie 1680 - 1713

Editor: This engraving, "Armoperatie," dating from around 1680-1713, by an anonymous artist, depicts an arm surgery. It’s a bit unsettling. The grimaces and the implements give it a palpable sense of unease. I’m wondering, what strikes you most about the means of production used in this piece? Curator: For me, it is fascinating how this piece reveals the materiality of 17th and 18th-century medicine. Engraving allowed for wider distribution, and this print functions as a commodity, bringing the realities of the body, normally hidden in the operating room, to a wider audience. What do you think that does to the perception of medical labour? Editor: So, the print medium democratizes the experience, showcasing the harshness of medical procedures… Was this a common way of circulating information about such practices? Curator: Exactly! These prints not only spread information but also shaped perceptions, making the invisible labor of healing more tangible, a form of consumption through images, thus sparking discussion about the body as both a site of labour and an object of exploitation. Consider the cost of creating these prints and the intended audiences: How do these details refine your sense of the artwork's message? Editor: I didn’t think about the audience and costs initially. Considering who had access to such images is key. It makes me reconsider who truly benefited from representations of this procedure and perhaps, who was being exploited. Curator: Precisely! And considering who could afford the engraving offers clues about class dynamics as they relate to medical knowledge and practices. Editor: That's an intriguing perspective; looking at it through the lens of the materials and their social implications really sheds new light on the image and shifts my thinking on it entirely. Thanks for that! Curator: It was my pleasure. Examining materiality and labor changes everything!