The Extraction of Tooth

Gerrit Dou painted The Extraction of Tooth, showing a traveling dentist performing his work on a grimacing patient. Onlookers gather around the scene, their expressions ranging from curiosity to amusement. Dou renders every detail with the minute precision for which he became famous.

A student of Rembrandt, Dou developed a highly refined technique known as fijnschilder (fine painting). His small, gem-like works commanded premium prices and influenced generations of Dutch painters. This painting hangs at the Louvre in Paris.