Portret van Johann Peter Frank 1775 - 1834

Konrad Westermayr created this print of Johann Peter Frank sometime between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It provides us with an interesting glimpse into the era's social and intellectual landscape. Frank was a prominent figure in public health and medicine, and his theories were influenced by the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and social reform. Yet, consider the power dynamics at play. In an era defined by rigid social hierarchies, the medical profession often served to reinforce existing class structures. Doctors like Frank, while advocating for public health, navigated a world where access to care was deeply stratified. What does it mean to advocate for public health in a society marked by profound inequality? This image invites us to reflect on the complexities of progress and the ways in which even the most well-intentioned efforts are shaped by the social and political realities of their time.