10 representations of the history of disability

Most people in the world will experience some degree of disability in their life, due to ageing for example. It’s not without reason an old Dutch saying goes ‘Ageing brings ailments’. Impairments have - and always will - be part of life.

Most people know Hendrick Avercamp from his 17th-century winter landscapes. Did you also know that he was deaf? His work typically portrayed Dutch people in their recreation time, often with humorous scenes hidden here and there. In this painting the silence of winter is broken by the sounds of people at play.

Scientific research suggests that the world-renowned and celebrated Italian artist Michelangelo may have had an autism spectrum disorder.

It may not surprise you; in the Middle Ages people with disabilities were portrayed as living on the fringes of society – as beggars, even. They often had no other way of making money.

When he was about 45 years old, the famous Spanish painter Francisco de Goya fell ill. It involved depression and deafness. He continued to make art, including an impressive print series about social inequality.

This is British Admiral Horatio Nelson. He lost a hand in the war and went blind in one eye. His injuries are presented as confirmation of his bravery. Disabilities are sometimes unjustly used as a mean to emphasize certain achievements.

Louis J.C. Ducornet was a talented artist and born with phocomelia: a condition that causes shortened limbs. He used his striking appearance as advertising to reach a wider audience. You can see this in his self-portrait as a Parisian gentleman.

Petronella Moens was a writer and poet. When she was young she caught smallpox, which left her visually impaired. Her award-winning body of work explored themes of emancipation, religion and politics.

In the 1980s, Mies Bouwman tried to raise awareness for a more inclusive society through TV programs. In the photo you can see her in a show to raise money for the 'World Games for the Disabled'.

For centuries we have looked at art with various subjects. Does specific information help to shift your focus? For instance, where do your eyes alight on this biblical scene? On St. Paul or on the prominently placed strong man using crutches?