A world renowned eye surgeon examines the portrayal the blind in art throughout the centuries, and discusses what we can infer from these depictions:

http://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/the-iconography-of-blindness-how-artists-have-portrayed-the-blind

Blind people have always been with us. The attitudes of society have varied over the years from disgust and horror to sympathy and kindness. How a painter depicts whether a subject cannot see in contrast to those who can us an interesting subject with a surprising number of examples. Some if these images clearly reveal the painters attitudes to blinding disability. Many are sensitive and beautiful creations in their own right. Looking at these works of art challenges our own preconceptions about blind people

The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College Website: http://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/the-iconography-of-blindness-how-artists-have-portrayed-the-blind

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