Jongen met een gezwel 1760 - 1785

"Jongen met een gezwel" (Boy with a tumor), a 1760-1785 etching by Pieter Willem van Megen, depicts a young boy with a large tumor on his neck. This medical illustration, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, is a poignant example of anatomical study and the portrayal of human affliction in 18th-century Dutch art. The detailed, yet sensitive, depiction of the boy's physical condition, with its delicate lines and subtle shading, reveals the artist's keen observation and skill.