An itinerant surgeon extracting stones from a man's head; symbolising the expulsion of 'folly' (insanity), in the background is a manic woman who is waiting for the operation. Photogravure, 1926, after T. de Brij after M. de Vos.

The surgeon wears a hat which bears two crossed keys, which is apparently the seal of the city of Leiden

The images of a surgeon (often itinerant) making an incision in a patient's head in order to extract 'stones' (implying madness in the individual) do not represent an actual operation, but are allegorical scenes refering to the subduction of 'folly' (madness) from the body. See further: W. Schupbach, A new look at The cure of folly, Medical history, 1978, vol. 22, pp. 267-281

1 process print ; image 11 x 10 cm

De keisnijder. ... Theodorus de Brij. ... Barber surgeon operating. From an engraving by Maarten de Vos. Lettering continues: "Theodorus de Brij was een ongeëvenaard meester in het graveeren. De hier afgebeelde prent is gestoken naar eene teekening van Maarten de Vos. "Het onderschrift beteekent: Het is niet noodig naar Anticyras te gaan; hier wordt gij van den kei gesneden". Anitcyras was het land, waar de helleborus vandaan kwam." The title is repeated in French

Wellcome Collection 21085i

After: J. Theodor and J. Israèl de Brij, Emblemata secularia mira et juncunda, 1576