
Cover image

On the cover: Albertine to See the Police Surgeon. 1886, oil on canvas, by Christian Krohg (Norwegian, 1852–1925) Nasjonalgalleriet, Oslo, Norway. The Bridgeman Art Library, New York. Reproduced with permission.
From the middle of the nineteenth century the control of syphilis in the Nordic countries concentrated on the prostitutes. With the help of the police, every woman who was suspected of being a prostitute was traced and arrested. She had to be registered and was instructed to visit an inspection office twice a week. In the presence of two policemen, a doctor would then examine her. These inspections were, of course, degrading for the women.
The Norwegian artist Christian Krohg painted a touching picture of the shy Albertine, wearing a white scarf, being led from the waiting room of the police doctor, as the more experienced prostitutes are staring at her. This painting started a public debate on prostitution in Norway.1 AS Malmborg, Stockholm, Sweden, Guest Contributor.
(Mary & Michael Grizzard, Cover Art Editors)
1Malmborg, AS. Infections in pictorial art. ESCMID News 2001; 3:18–22.