Visiting the Sick c. 17th century

Curator: This is David Custos's "Visiting the Sick," an engraving. The scene feels very staged, despite the subject. What catches your eye? Editor: I’m struck by how many figures there are and how they're segregated. The sick are clearly separated from the healthy, and even within those groups there seem to be different tiers. Curator: Exactly. Consider this: who holds the power in this image, and how is that power visualized through the composition, their clothing, and their proximity to the ill? Editor: I guess the healthier looking people seem to be in charge. It is interesting to think about how social structures and access to care are highlighted. Curator: Right. It asks us to confront inequalities in illness and care. Editor: This makes me consider how much has changed but also how much remains the same in terms of who gets care and how. Curator: Absolutely. It’s a powerful reflection on societal structures, even today.