Aderlating 1804

This 1804 etching by Reinier Vinkeles, entitled "Aderlating", depicts a scene of a woman receiving a bloodletting treatment. The work is a detailed depiction of the medical procedure, with three figures present - a doctor, a woman receiving treatment, and an assistant. "Aderlating", which translates to "bloodletting," was a common medical practice in the 18th and 19th centuries, and this etching provides a glimpse into the techniques of the time. The image is now located in the Rijksmuseum, and the meticulous detail of the scene, and the dramatic lighting, adds to the historical interest of this work.