C L O S L E R
Moving Us Closer To Osler
A Miller Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence Initiative

Take a moment to look and wonder: what’s going on in this picture? (This is the first question of the Visual Thinking Strategies [VTS] method; to learn more about VTS, go to http://vtshome.org.)

"Useless Science or the Alchemist," Remedios Varo, 1958. Wiki Art. Featured on CLOSLER via the Fair Use Act.

Takeaway

“The towers are long and thin; it feels like they’re stretching into the sky or the beyond, and there are bells on top. Maybe the figure is trying to signal the beyond.”-Dr. Colleen Christmas, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Lifelong Learning in Clinical Excellence | February 25, 2022 | <1 min read

Highlights

Not sure what's being spun but do notice the physical and visual connection between the figure’s clothing and the floor. Perhaps that's what is coming out of the spinning wheel?

Dr. Margaret Chisolm, Johns Hopkins Medicine
With the gold leaf-looking tones and Rube Goldberg contraption, it looks like it's meant to evoke religious iconography.

Glendon Mellow, illustrator, Toronto, Canada
Looks like the person is turning a crank in order to keep her dwelling lit and heated.

Dr. Jeff Millstein, Penn Medicine
I noticed the bells on the roof. I imagine they’re ringing.

Kim Williams, Admin Specialist, Johns Hopkins Medicine
The figure in the forefront looks like they're distilling and concentrating the dull beige around them into this soft golden light . . ..

Dr. Kamna Balhara, Johns Hopkins Medicine
The person looks tired and their complexion is pale/dusky.

Dr. Scott Wright, Johns Hopkins Medicine
The towers are long and thin; it feels like they're stretching into the sky or the beyond, and there are bells on top. Maybe the figure is trying to signal the beyond.

Dr. Colleen Christmas, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Dr. Margaret Chisolm, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Not sure what’s being spun but do notice the physical and visual connection between the figure’s clothing and the floor. Perhaps that’s what is coming out of the spinning wheel?

Glendon Mellow, illustrator, Toronto, Canada

With the gold leaf-looking tones and Rube Goldberg contraption, it looks like it’s meant to evoke religious iconography. Reminds me of Bosch’s use of alchemy apparatus. Black and white floor signifying something dual or simple. Structure of mind or morality?

What do you think?

Do you want to add to the conversation? Please share!

Dr. Jeff Millstein, Penn Medicine

Looks like the person is turning a crank in order to keep her dwelling lit and heated.

Kim Williams, Admin Specialist, Johns Hopkins Medicine

I noticed the bells on the roof. I imagine they’re ringing.

Dr. Kamna Balhara, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The figure in the forefront looks like they’re distilling and concentrating the dull beige around them into this soft golden light . . ..

Dr. Scott Wright, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The person looks tired and their complexion is pale/dusky. They’re expending energy to turn the crank that’s keeping all of the belts moving. The person is becoming one with the floor. The person also is losing hair or has an unusual haircut; there may also be a growth on scalp.

Dr. Colleen Christmas, Johns Hopkins Medicine

There’s a lot to wonder about here! There’s the figure looking downward with a flat affect (looks sad), turning the crank. The towers are long and thin; it feels like they’re stretching into the sky or the beyond, and there are bells on top. Maybe the figure is trying to signal the beyond.

Art
Conversation

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