J Baranski

Publications of J Baranski

• [The dance of death theme. On the cultural erosion of the figure of imagination]

  Authors: J Baranski

  Medycyna nowozytna : studia nad historia medycyny / Polska Akademia Nauk, Instytut Historii Nauki. 02/1999; 6(1):43-59.

  The Dance of Death theme was the most developed figure of imagination of the late Middle Ages. Its sources were not only rich but also mysterious: oriental influence, pagan customs, ChristianThe Dance of Death theme was the most developed figure of imagination of the late Middle Ages. Its sources were not only rich but also mysterious: oriental influence, pagan customs, Christian religion, and the habits of medieval everyday life. The imagery tendency of religious themes and the invention of wood engraving established the Dance of Death theme as a popular form of death imagery. The modern erosion of the Dance of Death theme has two reasons: 1) dying, death and corpses no longer constitute a sensual experience; 2) medical context of death disintegrated the former sacrum which has established ideological horizons of death imagery.

• [Rembrandt's lessons of anatomy: autopsy as the last act of torment performance]

  Authors: J Baranski

  Medycyna nowozytna : studia nad historia medycyny / Polska Akademia Nauk, Instytut Historii Nauki. 02/1998; 5(1):63-73.

  The paper discusses the problem of autopsy in the XVII century. As inspiration for reflections some paintings of Rembrandt are used. Autopsy merges in them as the last, though not the only one, actThe paper discusses the problem of autopsy in the XVII century. As inspiration for reflections some paintings of Rembrandt are used. Autopsy merges in them as the last, though not the only one, act of body torment performance, thanks to which not only the secrets of human body interior but also empirical horizons of medical research are disclosed. The intellectual background of that period (Bacon's empiricism, rationalism of Descartes, mechanics) allows for medical experience and scientific knowledge about the human body.

• [Medical esthetics in the works of Polish doctors on the turn of the XIXth century]

  Authors: J Baranski

  Medycyna nowozytna : studia nad historia medycyny / Polska Akademia Nauk, Instytut Historii Nauki. 02/1997; 4(1-2):113-24.

  The paper determines the objects of medical esthetics and the use of what is esthetic in doctor's practice and in medicine. The thesis of the paper is the assumption that medicine emerges out ofThe paper determines the objects of medical esthetics and the use of what is esthetic in doctor's practice and in medicine. The thesis of the paper is the assumption that medicine emerges out of esthetic distance. It is created by culture forms due to which biologicality of human body is restrained and subordinated. Medical esthetics examines these forms as well as their esthetic expressions in the art of therapy. The above assumption is documented by presenting the esthetic ideas of Polish doctors on the turn of the XIXth century. These ideas are represented first of all by: Zygmunt Kramsztyk, Henryk Nusbaum, Edmund Biernacki, Wladyslaw Bieganski, Heliodor Swiecicki and Wladyslaw Szumowski. The esthetic concepts and statement of the Polish doctors determine the limits of the objects of medical esthetics in which the doctor becomes the esthetic subject - creator of esthetic beauty, where as the medical art becomes esthetic form of medical practice.