Verwijderen van staar tijdens een oogoperatie before 1873

This photograph by A. de Montméja captures a cataract removal. Note the doctor's hands as they engage with the eye. This motif of touch, specifically towards the eyes, has resonated across cultures for centuries. Think of Saint Lucy, often depicted holding her eyes on a platter, or images of the apostle Paul's conversion, when scales fell from his eyes, granting him sight. Here, the gesture is clinical, but the underlying symbolism persists. Eyes, portals of perception and vulnerability, are being directly manipulated. This isn’t merely about physical sight; it delves into our collective anxieties and hopes regarding vision and understanding. The act of touching the eye, an organ so sensitive, creates a powerful tension. It speaks to our primal fears of blindness and our yearning for clarity. It reminds us that even in the modern age, ancient symbols continue to shape how we perceive and react to the world around us, echoing through time.