Seeing the Insane

The exploration of madness and art in Western culture reveals how stereotypes have influenced societal perceptions and treatment of mental illness from the Middle Ages to the late nineteenth century. Sander L. Gilman presents over 250 visual representations, including manuscripts, sculptures, and photographs, juxtaposed with medical illustrations. This collection highlights the reliance on visual motifs to concretize abstract concepts of mental illness, illustrating the historical relegation of the mentally ill to a state of "otherness" and the evolving societal understanding of insanity.