The Tooth Extractor

Pietro Longhi’s The Tooth Extractor (c.1740–c.1749) is a masterful example of genre painting executed during the Rococo period. Known for his keen observation of everyday life, Longhi employs oil on canvas to vividly capture a scene centered around the practice of tooth extraction. The delicate brushwork and soft palette characteristic of Rococo style emphasize intimacy and detail, reflecting both the social customs and medical practices of 18th-century Venice. This work combines humor and realism, offering insight into the period’s culture through a meticulously rendered domestic moment.