Man met een afwijking in het bekken 1836 - 1912

Isaac Weissenbruch created this pencil drawing titled "Man met een afwijking in het bekken" whose direct translation means "Man with a pelvic disorder" some time before his death in 1912. It is a small study of a man, viewed from behind, that draws our attention to his exposed body. In this work the artist challenges conventional representations of the human form, drawing the eye to the individual's physical difference, thus offering the viewer an intimate, almost vulnerable, perspective. Consider the social and cultural context of Weissenbruch’s time, a period when medical and scientific views on disability were rapidly evolving. How might this have influenced both the artist's approach and the viewer's reception? While Weissenbruch's intentions remain ambiguous, this drawing serves as a powerful reminder of the diverse ways in which bodies exist and are perceived. It prompts us to consider how art can reflect and shape our understanding of societal attitudes toward physical difference and identity.