Physical Disability Collection

Homeless people expelled from a town (engraving)
8626660 Homeless people expelled from a town (engraving) by Muyden, Henri van (1860-1936); Private Collection; (add.info.: Homeless people expelled from a town, Switzerland)

Lazarillo de Tormes and His Blind Master, before 1880 (oil on fabric)
XOS5879766 Lazarillo de Tormes and His Blind Master, before 1880 (oil on fabric) by Ribot, Auguste Theodule (1823-91); 108x90 cm; Cleveland Museum of Art, OH

Badge, Belle, Bench, Blind, Block, Block, Board, Brace, Brace, Bread, Break, Brick (engraving)
8651805 Badge, Belle, Bench, Blind, Block, Block, Board, Brace, Brace, Bread, Break, Brick (engraving) by German School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Badge, Belle, Bench)

Representation of the Greek poet Homere (7th century BC) with his guide. 19th century
ELD4898478 Representation of the Greek poet Homere (7th century BC) with his guide. 19th century (engraving from "Les grandes infortunes" by Changer et Spont)

Les GUEUX- aveugle et son compagnon engraving de 1632 a l'eau forte by Jacques Callot (1592-1635), Dim en cm 13
JEB4889619 Les GUEUX- aveugle et son compagnon engraving de 1632 a l'eau forte by Jacques Callot (1592-1635), Dim en cm 13, 9x8

Nicholas Saunderson
3478687 Nicholas Saunderson; (add.info.: Portrait of Nicholas Saunderson (1682-1739) a blind English scientist and mathematician. Dated 18th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Blind guests arriving at St Phillips Institute for afternoon tea, 1850
3478672 Blind guests arriving at St Phillips Institute for afternoon tea, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting blind guests arriving at St. Phillips Institute for afternoon tea)

A blind woman, 1850
3478667 A blind woman, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting blind woman learning to read at the London Society for Teaching Reading to the Blind)

Blind women looks out of her window, 1882
3479054 Blind women looks out of her window, 1882; (add.info.: Temptress looking out of her garret window onto Smokey surroundings, cheered only by the song of the linnet which, being blind)

Modes: Major and Minor - Music Alphabet - For use by young students in Schools, Education Houses and Families
DUV4219801 Modes: Major and Minor - Music Alphabet - For use by young students in Schools, Education Houses and Families, 1897 (lithograph); 31x24.5 cm; (add.info.: Paul Dupont, editor, Paris, 1897)

Capital letters Plate in "Picturesque alphabet or New informative and picturesque alphabet", 1892 (engraving)
DUV4220244 Capital letters Plate in "Picturesque alphabet or New informative and picturesque alphabet", 1892 (engraving); 27x17.5 cm; (add.info)

Isaac blesses Jacob, chromolithograph from a home bible, 1870
UIG5413210 Isaac blesses Jacob, chromolithograph from a home bible, 1870; UIG

Greece, Chania, Crete: Katotiana, animated scene, a blind walking in the street, 1908
LUX4764607 Greece, Chania, Crete: Katotiana, animated scene, a blind walking in the street, 1908; (add.info.: Greece, Chania, Crete: Katotiana, animated scene, a blind walking in the street)

Printing Key Frame, by which the Blind may Write (engraving)
8661537 Printing Key Frame, by which the Blind may Write (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Printing Key Frame, by which the Blind may Write)

Nerves damaged by war (litho)
8664192 Nerves damaged by war (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Nerves damaged by war)

Ss Peter and John healing the cripple (colour litho)
8670531ss Peter and John healing the cripple (colour litho) by Stacey, W.S. (1846-1929); Private Collection; (add.info.:ss Peter and John healing the cripple)

The blind and the paralytic, 19th century (illustration)
8822189 The blind and the paralytic, 19th century (illustration) by Grandville (Jean Ignace Isidore Gerard) (1803-47); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Blinding of Elymas, 1515 (painting)
3481091 The Blinding of Elymas, 1515 (painting); Vatican Museums and Galleries, Vatican City; (add.info.: The Blinding of Elymas (cartoon for the Sistine Chapel) 1515

Blind man's bluff, society people, historical wood engraving, about 1897
UIG5414495 Blind man's bluff, society people, historical wood engraving, about 1897; UIG

Letter I: War invalid, beg 20th century (chromolithograph)
DUV4204097 Letter I: War invalid, beg 20th century (chromolithograph); 25x17.5 cm; (add.info.: Drolatic album (abecedary). Series number 4 in Albums-chromo on canvas. Chromolithographs on tissue

La Baionnette, Satirical in Colours, 1915_11_18: War of 14 -18, Germany Prussia
ICA4933725 La Baionnette, Satirical in Colours, 1915_11_18: War of 14 -18, Germany Prussia, Belligerants and Symbols - Verite (Allegory of) - Illustration by Pierre E

Anysis concealed in the marshes of the delta. Anysis, blind king of Egypt
6867223 Anysis concealed in the marshes of the delta. Anysis, blind king of Egypt, he was deposed by Sabacos and after hiding in marshland for fifty years, returned to power

A cripple making penny wooden toys, 1850
3478385 A cripple making penny wooden toys, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a cripple making penny wooden toys, while minding children of other tenants of the home)

A sting alphabet for the blind, 1850
3478670 A sting alphabet for the blind, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a string alphabet for the blind. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Various methods of writing for the blind, 1850
3478664 Various methods of writing for the blind, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting various methods of writing for the blind. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Francis Huber (1750-c1831)
864448 Francis Huber (1750-c1831); (add.info.: Francis Huber (1750-c1831) the blind Swiss naturalist, studied the habits of bees with the aid of his servant

Children of the rich in London entertaining disabled children in hospital (litho)
8672125 Children of the rich in London entertaining disabled children in hospital (litho) by Flere, H. H. (19th-20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Cradle, Cradle, Crawfish, Crayon, Crevice, Cripple, Crosiers, Cross-bill, Cross-bow, Crossing, Cross-road
8650042 Cradle, Cradle, Crawfish, Crayon, Crevice, Cripple, Crosiers, Cross-bill, Cross-bow, Crossing, Cross-road, Crow-bar (engraving) by German School

Mat Weaving (engraving)
8643491 Mat Weaving (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mat Weaving. Illustration for The Quiver (1889).); © Look and Learn

Legs prosthesis intended for the poor and beggars. Engraving from a work on the amputations of the members of
FGL5487545 Legs prosthesis intended for the poor and beggars. Engraving from a work on the amputations of the members of the French surgeon Ambroise Pare (1509-1590). 1551.; Fototeca Gilardi

A deaf-mute child learning to speak, 1850
3478641 A deaf-mute child learning to speak, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a deaf-mute child learning to speak by practising tongue and lip exercises in front of the mirror)

Mr & Mrs Kinsey, 1850
3478637 Mr & Mrs Kinsey, 1850; (add.info.: Illustrated portraits of Mr & Mrs Kinsey who both worked to help deaf-mutes. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Letter I J and M: Invalid Guere and Juggler, Mere Michele and Pere Lustucru (popular song)
DUV4204102 Letter I J and M: Invalid Guere and Juggler, Mere Michele and Pere Lustucru (popular song), beg 20th century (chromolithograph); 25x17.5 cm; (add.info.: Drolatic album (abecedary)

The blind poet, Milton, dictating his greatest work "Paradise Lost" (litho)
8673454 The blind poet, Milton, dictating his greatest work "Paradise Lost" (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The blind poet, Milton)

Tobias with Archangel Raphael who helped him catch fish which would miraculously cure his father's eyesight
534341 Tobias with Archangel Raphael who helped him catch fish which would miraculously cure his father's eyesight, 1865 (engraving); (add.info)

Oedipus and Antigone (engraving)
8634982 Oedipus and Antigone (engraving) by German School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Oedipus and Antigone. Illustration from Hellas)

Asylum for Idiots, Redhill, Surrey (engraving)
8676353 Asylum for Idiots, Redhill, Surrey (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Asylum for Idiots, Redhill, Surrey)

Patients and staff outside Gifford House, Worthing, Sussex (b/w photo)
8676042 Patients and staff outside Gifford House, Worthing, Sussex (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Patients and staff outside Gifford House)

La Caricature (1830) politique, Satirique en N & B, 1831_10_13: Barbarism and cholera morbus entering Europe - War
ICA4930707 La Caricature (1830) politique, Satirique en N & B, 1831_10_13: Barbarism and cholera morbus entering Europe - War, Russia, Europe, Poland, Barbaria/Kultur

Representation of Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) Italian astronomer and mathematician
ELD4898378 Representation of Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) Italian astronomer and mathematician, under house arrest and completely blind, receiving the assistance of Dino I, Vincenzo Viviani

The curing of Tobias, c.1600-50 (oil on canvas)
8682968 The curing of Tobias, c.1600-50 (oil on canvas) by Bellis, Antonio de (c.1616-c.1656); Prado, Madrid, Spain; (add.info)

Something to the poor blind man. You have to have pity on your neighbour, even when you have to complain about it
DUV4222319 Something to the poor blind man. You have to have pity on your neighbour, even when you have to complain about it, c.1830 (engraving); 16x12 cm; (add.info.: Alphabet fun. J)

Medicine. Valentin Hauy, founder of the first school for the blind, 1786. Imagery, France, c.1900 (print)
3433710 Medicine. Valentin Hauy, founder of the first school for the blind, 1786. Imagery, France, c.1900 (print); (add.info.: Medecine. Imagerie, France, debut 20eme. Coll. Part. Medicine)

Blind guests arriving at St Phillips Institute for afternoon tea, 1850
3478681 Blind guests arriving at St Phillips Institute for afternoon tea, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting blind guests arriving at St. Phillips Institute for afternoon tea)

Page from Proverbs with Pictures by Charles H Bennett, 1859 (engraving)
8638774 Page from Proverbs with Pictures by Charles H Bennett, 1859 (engraving) by Bennett, Charles Henry (1828-67) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Homeward bound, gone lame (colour litho)
8635664 Homeward bound, gone lame (colour litho) by Browne, Tom (1872-1910); Private Collection; (add.info.: Homeward bound, gone lame. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

"Blind" parcels, Mount Pleasant (litho)
8649483 "Blind" parcels, Mount Pleasant (litho) by Somerfield, Thomas (1876-1937); Private Collection; (add.info.: "Blind" parcels, Mount Pleasant)

Kiss, Kite, Kite, Knit, Knob, Knot, Knot, Lace, Lake, Lamb, Lame, Lamp (engraving)
8649999 Kiss, Kite, Kite, Knit, Knob, Knot, Knot, Lace, Lake, Lamb, Lame, Lamp (engraving) by German School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Kiss, Kite, Kite, Knit, Knob)

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

Throughout history, physical disabilities have been depicted in art and literature, reflecting the human experience beyond the confines of ability. From the illustration of a lottery game in 1880s France, where a man with a white cane is shown among the crowd, to the biblical story of Samson's blindness, art has captured the resilience and diversity of those living with disabilities. In the USSR during the early 20th century, the representation of individuals with disabilities, such as the man with a genetic deformity in an 1812 gouache, shifted towards a more inclusive and positive portrayal. Albert Robida's illustration for The Caricature in 1884, depicting a three-color flag and the horn of abundance, symbolizes hope and opportunity for all, including those with disabilities. Art, like the journey to the Fountain of Life in a 1418-30 fresco, offers a glimpse into the human spirit and its ability to adapt, endure, and thrive. The portraits of Marten Rijkaert and Blind Tobias, painted in the 17th century, remind us of the importance of recognizing and celebrating the unique qualities and contributions of each individual, regardless of their physical abilities.