Cornelis DusartDutch, 1660–1704The Cupper (Kopster)
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “The Cupper (Kopster)” now? Collection: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. Not on view at present. Checked September 29, 2026.
Chicago, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the work
A wince-inducing, humorously sexualized take on now outdated medical practices, Cornelis Dusart’s etching shows a woman undergoing minor surgery. Possibly to alleviate a female complaint, heated glass cups are applied to her feet. These raise blood-filled boils, which the attendant then lances and purges of bad blood. The appended verses and the bill of fare hanging on the mantelpiece both mention clystering as a subsequent treatment option: the upward diagonal angle of the clyster (an enema or douche) in the male attendant’s belt lends credence to the implication that the treatment doubled as an ersatz form of sexual congress.
Art Institute of ChicagoCC BY 4.0
Details
- Accession number
- 1920.2159
In the catalog
Sources
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Image: Art Institute of Chicago — CC0
