The Anatomy Lesson of Dr PDF

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“The anatomy lesson of Dr. Nicolas Tulp” Student Name Instructor’s name Institution Date

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Introduction Art has been used in many decades as a means of communicating societal issues ranging from social, economic, political, cultural, and technological stands of life. Thus, different human communities have claimed a significant part of the recognition of their culture through the use of art. In a broader sense, art is a form of expression through which paintings and sculptures are used to portray ideologies connected to sorrow, happiness, love, triumph, feelings, and beauty of life. In this case, the analysis of “The anatomy lesson of Dr. Nicolas Tulp” will indicate some aspects of cultural and contextual affiliations of the art based on its community of origin. Further, the aesthetic and stylistic features used are significant in accordance with the period of its production. Thus, as indicated above, the art under analysis contains specific symbolic meaning as a means of passing the message it is intended for. Thus, this paper will focus on the analysis of “The anatomy lesson of Dr. Nicolas Tulp” based on cultural affiliations, aesthetic and symbolic meaning of the message portrayed to the public. Cultural context The anatomy lesson by Dr. Nicolaes is a painting developed by Rembrandt in the year 1632 as a means of demonstrating medical professionalism. The cultural background of the artwork is based in Amsterdam, whereby city anatomist was allowed to operate bodies pu Stylistic features

xecuted criminal. This was a lesson done in

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back in the 17th century (Rachlin 2007). The The anatomical artwork by Rembrandt uring the 17th century in Amsterdam,

pu is a radical alteration of the genre where it falls. w

and students, as well as the general public, For instance, the full length of the corpse and at

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ess. Further to note, the dressing of the the same time being positioned at the center of the portrait is a stylistic feature which illustrates the iconography of Christ. The painting was developed on canvas and oil as

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characters in the painting is a depiction of social occasions performed under the cultural guidance of traditional medicine.

Further to note, the artist utilizes the mise-en-scene technique as seen through the balanced arrangement of all characters to allow a view of everyone. Also, Samuel (2011) notes that the stylistic utilized is important because it demonstrates the proper choice of lighting, costumes, sets, and composition to bring about the traditional culture of Amsterdam. Message and function of the painting The main message being passed by “The anatomy lesson of Dr. Nicolas Tulp” is about the scientific developments that have taken place in the field of medicine throughout History. Within Amsterdam, the bodies of criminals sentenced to death by hanging were dissected in public. Due to the lack of proper refrigeration, as Mellick (2007) claims, the yearly event of dissection was implemented during winter because the low temperature would be used for proper preservation

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of the body. The painting is a representation of the ancient ways of preserving corpses during winter, compared to today, where people use refrigerators to preserve bodies. Through such civilization, people can advance further in medical technological issues, owing to the ancient methodologies of operation. Meaning of symbols “The anatomy lesson of Dr. Nicolas Tulp” is a symbol of the Dutch development in terms of cultural and national identity in the sense of foundational value, social class and religion. More reflectively, the religious implication or symbolism of the reality is depicted in the portrait in the manner that, colleagues are presented in the dissecting process of the brain and arms. In this sense, the works are connected in the foreshortening and reminiscent of Christ’s death.

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another note, the art is a symbol of civilization in the Dutch communities as seen in the preservation process of the corpse. The portrait serves as a god custodial of the History of medicine in Dutch. Conclusion As seen through the artwork presented, historical, cultural, and social messages of the Dutch civilization have been presented more succinctly. The creativity of the artist, as seen through the use of artistic elements and style such as symbolism and quality of the composition, helps in bringing the imagery of the ancient Dutch culture. Therefore, the portrait is relevant in the message it sends to the viewer because the creativity used in the development of the artwork makes it easy for viewers to connect the symbolic meaning of the image and the community it comes from.

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References Delany, Samuel R. (2011). Silent Interviews: On Language, Race, Sex, Science Fiction, and Some Comics--A Collection of Written Interviews. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press. p. 98. ISBN 9780819571922 Mellick, S.A., Dr. Nicolaes Tulp of Amsterdam, 1593-1674: anatomist and doctor of medicine: ANZ J Surg. 2007 Dec;77 (12):1102-9. Rachlin, H. (2007). Scandals, Vandals, and Da Vincis. Chrysalis Books. Pp. 55–61. ISBN 978-186105-878-2....