EXAMPLES OF SYPHILIS IN THE HISTORY OF ART

Abstract

Outbreaks took place throughout history, changing the daily lives of societies and causing mass death. Some were short-lived while some impacted for several years. Syphilis is also an illness that continues its impact for some centuries. Syphilis is caused by bacteria known as Treponema Pallidum and is transmissible mostly sexually but also through blood transfusion, contact with damaged tissue, and from pregnant mother to baby. The illness clings to mucosa, skin, and inner organs, damaging the body and resulting in death. It causes skin cash, blindness, deformation of the skeletal structure, and neurocognitive disorders such as delirium when impacting the nervous system. In this study, examples of syphilis in art. The first known example of syphilis in the history of visual arts, the woodcut by Albrecht Dürer known as the “Syphilitic Man” is discussed in the article. Another example on the records from early periods, the portrait of German poet, theologian, play writer Ulrich von Hutten is also discussed in the article. Painting by Richard Cooper dated 1912 and named “Syphilis” is also discussed in the article with the symbolic expression is used to approach the disease as different than other works. Edvard Munch’s painting named Inheritance is also discussed in the article with the effect of syphilis on relations with the family. Again, works of Otto Dix that are at a different spot compared to other works are among the studies discussed in this article.