Eakins

I love the contrast between these two oil on canvas paintings by Thomas Eakins (1844-1916). The first, "The Gross Clinic" from 1875 is dark, with "uncompromising realism," showing a professor lecturing a group of students on extremity anatomy. Based on a surgery the artist saw for osteomyelitis, it captures a sense of foreboding. On the other hand, "The Agnew Clinic" from 1889 is illuminated, with a sense of promise, cleanliness, and control. These paintings are often compared in describing the advancements of aseptic technique and understanding of infection during this period of time.

Both images are in the public domain, taken from Wikipedia.