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The Doctors Visit, c. 1665-8 (oil on panel)
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The Doctors Visit, c. 1665-8 (oil on panel)
5863942 The Doctors Visit, c.1665-8 (oil on panel) by Steen, Jan Havicksz. (1625/26-79); 60.5x48.5 cm; Mauritshuis, The Hague, The Netherlands; (add.info.: The doctor (a charlatan in old-fashioned attire characterizes him as comic) is having a drink while visiting the sick girl who is probably suffering from a wandering womb, an illness that mainly affected young virgins. The remedy is for the girl to find a husband as soon as possible (sleep with her lover)); Dutch, out of copyright
Media ID 23267846
© Bridgeman Images
Bedroom Carpet Charlatan Curtained Diagnosis Domesticity Doorway Dutch Golden Age Faint Golden Age Parody Quack Seventeenth Sick Sickness Stairs Stereotype Beds
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The Doctor's Visit
EDITORS COMMENTS
by Jan Havicksz. Steen is a captivating snapshot of 17th-century Dutch domestic life, filled with humor and satire. In this oil painting, we are transported to a curtained bedroom where a doctor, dressed in comical attire, pays a visit to a sick young girl. The scene is laced with irony as the doctor casually sips his drink while diagnosing the girl's ailment. She is believed to suffer from the wandering womb, an affliction that commonly affected young virgins during that time. The cure? Finding a husband or sleeping with her lover – an amusing remedy indeed! Steen masterfully captures the essence of Dutch Golden Age art through his attention to detail and use of light and shadow. The room is adorned with rich furnishings and carpets, showcasing the opulence of the era. This painting serves as both social commentary and parody, highlighting societal stereotypes surrounding doctors and their questionable practices. It invites us into a world where medical diagnoses were often based on superstition rather than scientific knowledge. "The Doctor's Visit" offers us not only visual delight but also insight into historical beliefs about health and relationships. It reminds us that even in times past, humor was used as a tool for critique and reflection. Through this print from Bridgeman Images, we can appreciate Steen's artistic genius while immersing ourselves in the vibrant tapestry of 17th-century Holland.
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