The Dentist 1668 - 1710

Johann Graff's painting, "The Dentist," captures a scene rendered in oil paint, a medium that allows for a wide range of textures and tones. The material itself becomes a crucial narrator here. Oil paint is usually associated with a certain level of society, given its cost, but Graff uses it to depict a decidedly common scene of public dentistry. It is very different from the refined settings that you would normally see. The coarse textures, achieved through layering and perhaps scumbling, give the scene an earthy, unglamorous feel. The color palette, dominated by grays and browns, contributes to the painting's somber atmosphere, reflecting the pain and anxiety associated with dental procedures of the time. Consider the process: the application of paint in broad strokes suggests a sense of urgency, mirroring the immediacy of the dental work being performed. This contrast with the more controlled techniques of academic painting reflects the distinction between the world of fine art and the everyday realities of life and labor. Graff's choice of subject and his approach to painting challenge traditional notions of beauty and value in art.