The Unsolicited Expression of Gratitude (plate 22) 1843

Charles Jacque made this print, "The Unsolicited Expression of Gratitude," in France around 1853, using etching and engraving. It's part of a series called "The Sick and the Doctors," a satire targeting the medical profession. The image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. For example, note the skulls on the mantlepiece. The print comments on the social structures of its time, particularly the perceived greed and self-importance of doctors. By exaggerating their physical features and depicting them in ridiculous situations, Jacque critiques the medical establishment's self-serving practices. To understand this artwork better, we can research the social and economic conditions of 19th-century France, the history of medical institutions, and popular attitudes towards doctors. These resources reveal the print's meaning as a product of its social and institutional context, shaped by the power dynamics and cultural values of its time.