t h e°art of
'tzs:,
LEARNING MEDICINE
iijt

an exhibit of etchings and drawings
   t~- by May H. Lesser \|7 /
// J
   [National Library of Medicine1 /
8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Md., 20014
May4-Aug.28,1970

 
THE ART OF LEARNING MEDICINE
     In this exhibit physicians have a unique opportunity to recapture the almost forgotten memories of that first day in
the anatomy lab, their awkwardness at the bedside when first taking a history, the excitment of their first delivery on the
obstetrical service. Laymen, too, may share in these experiences, as Mrs. Lesser has applied her artistic talent to a wide
variety of medical school scenes in a most sensitive yet authentic manner. As resident artist at the UCLA Medical School
with the class of 1971, she attended lectures, laboratories, and clinics with copperplate or drawing materials in hand. She
has accompanied the class through the freshman and sophomore years, and examples of this period are on display.
     May Lesser sets the mood in the  following statement. "Working alongside them  over the past two years, I have
evolved as they have. I am more at ease  with the material, can look at it more objectively and assimilate it better into art.
Consequently the work has grown from  still  to active, from  few colors to many, and from isolated students  to the large
cohesive group.  Perhaps more understanding of the students has led to greater fluidity in the work,  while  greater
involvement with clinical medicine and its human problems (which are more within the scope of the on-looker) has added
depth. The graphic work parallels the movement from the cadaver to the live patient, and the student's silent hours over
the dead body to his verbal interchange with the  live human being.  As they came to understand the art of their medicine, I
also became aware of the universal truth all around in the hospital setting. Beauty is inherent in the human cycle: birth,
death, and human warmth and caring. 'Mercy comes in the form of human hands.' " 

 
BIOGRAPHY:
     May H. Lesser, the  daughter,  sister,  and wife of physicians, is a graduate of the H. Sophie Newcomb College,
Tulane University, with honors in drawing. She received a master's degree in painting from the University of Alabama
and did graduate work at UCLA, where she also taught design. Her work has been exhibited at the UCLA Medical
Center, Tulane University, University of Miami, Seattle Museum of Art, California State College at Long Beach, the
Detroit Institute of Art, Smithsonian Institution, and a number of United States Embassies abroad.
     Her etchings and drawings are in the permanent collections of the Weatherspoon Gallery, University of North
Carolina; Okjahoma Art Center; the  Philadelphia Museum of Art; the Grunwald Graphic Art Foundation, UCLA; and
the National Library of Medicine. Two of her color etchings have recently appeared on the cover of the Journal of the
American Medical Association.
 
1. Sagittal Series,  24x18, color etching and  dry point

2. Self Examination, 18x25, ink drawing

3. The Surgeons, 24x18, color etching and dry point

4. The First Probe, 20x24, ink drawing

5. The Laboratory, 24x36, color etching and drypoint

6. Pediatric Examination, 18x25, color etching and pastel

7. The Case History, 18x25, ink drawing

8. The Charity Wait, 18x24, etching

9. The Contained:  REM Sleep, 24x18, color etching

10. Psychiatric Evaluation, 18x24, color etching

11. Visual Perception, 18x24, color etching

12. Exact Measure, 6x9, drypoint

13.  Injecting the Dye, 9x12, color etching

14.  Studying the X-rays, 9x12, color etching

15.  Boning Up, 8x9, drypoint

16.  The Operation, 12x18, color etching

17.  Supervision, 9x12, etching and drypoint

18.  Observing Surgery, 18x25, ink drawing

19.  In the O.R., 18x25, ink drawing

20. Professor's Case Presentation, 18x23,  ink  and pastel
    drawing

21. Psychiatric Interview, 18x25, ink drawing

22. Slide Lecture,' 18x24, color etching

23. Organ Recital,  16x17, color etching

24. Gross Specimen, 16x18, color etching

 25.  Quiz Session, 16x17, color etching

 26.  Bio-math,  18x25, pastel

 27.  Pharmacology Lab, 25x18, color etching

 28.  MMI, 18x16, color etching and pastel

 29.  Bio-Chem Lab, 18x18, color etching

 30.  Tracheotomy, 13x16, etching

 31. Removal of Skull Bones, 12x8, color etching and
     drypoint
32.  Centrifuge, 9x6, drypoint

33.  The Womb, 16x18, color etching and drypoint

34.  Skin Clinic, 18x20, pastel

35.  The  Baby  is Delivered (Caesarian  Section),  16x17,
    color etching

36.  Blood Clot, 24x18, color etching

37.  A Quiet Study,  12x9, color etching

38.  Final Exam, 27x30, color etching

39.  Dr. Grant  of  Grant's Atlas of  Anatomy,  16x18,
    drypoint

40.  Fetus,  18x18, color etching

41. Ventricles, 19x26, ink drawing

42. The Baby is Born, 23x30, color etching and pastel 4

43. Gynecologist, 24x18, color etching and drypoint

44. Bad News,  27x30, color etching and pastel

45. Student Assistant, 18x24, ink drawing

46. Gastric Fluids,  17x21, ink drawing 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
                  Public Health Service
               National Institutes of Health