Tandarts 1717 - 1783

This is ‘Tandarts’, an etching made by Jacques Philippe Le Bas, sometime in the 18th century. The image captures a scene of early dentistry. The print was made in France at a time when medical practices were rapidly evolving. The dentist, surrounded by an array of curious tools and concoctions, reflects the blend of science and craft that characterized the profession. Note the assistant in the background, carefully grinding something. This was long before modern medicine became standardized, and we see here the workshop of an artisan as much as the office of a medical man. It also points to the social history of medicine, when barber-surgeons would perform these services. To understand this print fully, one might consult historical medical texts and records from French guilds of the period. These would shed light on the status of dentistry within the broader medical community. By understanding its social and institutional context, art becomes a window into a past way of life.