Art, Medicine, and Femininity: Visualising the Morphine Addict in Paris, 1870-1914.

This article discusses a book by Hannah Halliwell titled "Art, Medicine, and Femininity: Visualising the Morphine Addict in Paris, 1870-1914." The book explores the intersection of art, medicine, and femininity in the visual representation of morphine addiction in late 19th-century France. It examines various artistic tropes, the feminization of morphine addiction, the absence of male figures in artworks, and the gendering of morphine use. The book also highlights the use of sensationalized images of morphine addicts by journalists and foreign artists in Paris. The author argues that the visual culture of substance use plays a significant role in constructing public perception and perpetuating false information about addiction. The book provides valuable insights and analysis for scholars in various disciplines and offers a comparative framework for trans-regional studies. [Extracted from the article]