The Doctor Dismissing Death 1785

"The Doctor Dismissing Death" is a satirical print from 1785 by the English artist Peter Simon, and is currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The artwork depicts a doctor, wielding a knife, attempting to ward off Death, who is depicted as a skeletal figure, in the form of a caricature. The humor of the print lies in its exaggeration of the doctor's confidence and Death's helplessness in the face of medical practice. It's a powerful commentary on the evolving role of medicine and the power it was perceived to have during the Enlightenment era.