Reproductie van een prent van het trekken van een kies bij de tandarts door D.J. Pound naar Gerard van Honthorst before 1875

This is an anonymous reproduction of a print by D.J. Pound based on a painting by Gerard van Honthorst, depicting a dental procedure. Without an artist, it is difficult to discern their personal motivations or beliefs. However, we can still consider its social and historical context. In past centuries, medical and dental procedures were often public spectacles, imbued with both curiosity and fear. The figures surrounding the patient and the dentist could be family members or paid witnesses. This print allows a glimpse into these visceral and public interactions, inviting reflection on the cultural norms of the period. Consider how class might influence the scene. How might a wealthier person’s experience differ from a poor person’s experience of a visit to the dentist? How does this imagery either maintain or challenge existing societal structures? Though anonymous, the work opens a fascinating dialogue about our relationship to medical practices and the narratives we construct around them.