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The Charlatan

c. 1930
G. T. (Belgian, active c. 1930) Published by Gordinne, Liège, Belgium
In this comic example of the inexpensive popular French prints known as imageries populaires, a quack's false promises result in a patient's agony. The Charlatan sells vials of plain water for two francs even though, he is quick to stress, they cost him five francs. To demonstrate the product's value, he has offered to pull all diseased teeth in town without causing pain. In the end, the bargain proves to be a poor one when it takes two tries to pull a single tooth and the pain still persists for more than a month.

Object Details

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