Gewaande zieke 1856

Adolf Carel Nunnink created this print titled 'Gewaande zieke' sometime in the 19th century. Prints like this one were immensely popular at a time when social mobility was increasing yet access to original artwork was often limited by wealth and social status. The scene depicts a well-to-do man surrounded by concerned figures; his sickness is the fulcrum for the drama unfolding, and yet it is a drama that is deeply rooted in social dynamics. There's a tension between the representation of illness and the performance of care, and it's hard not to consider the ways in which displays of sympathy and concern served to solidify social bonds and hierarchies during this era. In moments like these, gender roles are reinforced, and the dynamics of class are subtly enacted. Nunnink invites us to reflect on the human theater of illness and health. A theater where care is a currency and the sickroom a stage.