The Bitter Potion c. 1636 - 1638

Curator: Well, isn't that a face that could curdle milk? Adriaen Brouwer's "The Bitter Potion," dating back to somewhere between 1636 and 1638. Brouwer painted this oil on wood, and it now lives at the Städel Museum. What strikes you right away? Editor: Raw agony, wouldn't you say? The visible frustration. It leaps right out, doesn't it? The open mouth, the furrowed brow...He’s caught in a moment we’ve all known but maybe not quite so theatrically. Curator: Absolutely. It’s a wonderfully honest depiction of discomfort, but it also serves as a fascinating peek into the social attitudes toward medicine during the Baroque period. I think Brouwer presents a moment of social truth about the medicine in that era, the sort you find in low taverns and houses of the poor. Editor: Right, the context is crucial. So much art of this period is about showing refinement or wealth, even moral righteousness. Then Brouwer gives us… this. Do you think it's pushing against established norms? Or perhaps simply highlighting a blind spot in the dominant narrative? Curator: Both, I suspect. Brouwer had this remarkable knack for depicting everyday life, with all its ugliness and humor. It’s genre painting, yes, but also a mirror held up to a society that preferred looking at its idealized reflection. Editor: The muted color palette—earthy browns and grays—adds to the stark realism, doesn’t it? The detail, though, isn't just in his expression. It's there in the rough texture of his clothes and even how he grips that tiny bottle and bowl of… who knows what horrors. It's amazing how this humble painting makes one reflect so deeply about the truth and medicine as perceived by normal society. Curator: I agree completely. It makes you consider, in very visceral terms, how people perceived, and indeed ingested, “healing” in the 17th century. This fellow here would probably find himself more sympathetic than the refined figures who feature in typical society art. Editor: It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be beautiful to be profound. And sometimes, the most powerful statements are made with a grimace and a very bitter potion. Curator: Precisely. Brouwer challenges us to confront the less palatable aspects of life, with his brilliant, unflinching gaze. And maybe to be grateful for modern medicine!