Portret van een onbekende man met huiduitslag en bulten veroorzaakt door syfilis c. 1860 - 1868

This is a portrait of an unknown man with skin lesions caused by syphilis, made by A. de Montméja in the late 19th century. It's a printed illustration, likely a chromolithograph, which was a relatively new technology at the time. The process involved using multiple lithographic stones, each inked with a different color, to create a full-color image. What's interesting is that the labor of producing such images was often divided among skilled artisans, each specializing in a particular color or detail. In a way, it's an early example of mass production applied to visual representation. The stark realism of the image, and the clinical detachment with which the man is portrayed, tells us a lot about the social context in which it was made. Syphilis was a widespread and feared disease. The print is clearly intended for medical purposes, not for aesthetic appreciation. The image forces us to confront the material realities of the human body, and the social realities of disease and suffering. This challenges traditional notions of beauty and artistic value, reminding us that art can serve many purposes beyond decoration and entertainment.