Empirical Medicine c. 18th century

Curator: Jacques Nicolas Tardieu created this engraving, called "Empirical Medicine," sometime around the 18th century. What leaps out at you when you look at it? Editor: Well, there's a certain organized chaos to the scene, isn't there? The quack doctor seems so pleased with himself while everyone else looks dubious. Curator: I find it interesting how Tardieu, as an engraver, is commenting on the state of medicine during the Enlightenment. The print suggests a skepticism toward so-called experts. Editor: Exactly, and the composition reinforces that. The hourglass, the bubbling concoctions, the patient peering from behind the door—it’s all about theatrical display versus genuine care. Curator: It makes you wonder about the role of charlatans and the public's perception of science back then. Perhaps not so different from today... Editor: Indeed. Though the print is small, it holds a mirror up to larger societal anxieties surrounding trust and authority. A timely reflection, even centuries later.