How have the insane appeared in the eyes of the rest of society throughout history? And how has that changing image of the insane affected the way they have been identified or diagnosed, cared for or persecuted, confined or treated? "Seeing the Insane" is a monumental work tormenting in scholarly text and 287 remarkable illustrations the gradual evolution of the image of the insane from the Middle Ages onward. It is a richly detailed cultural history of madness and art in the Western world, showing how the portrayal of stereotypes has both reflected and shaped the perception and treatment of the mentally disturbed. Vividly presented in these pages are the symbols and icons that reveal the attitudes toward those who are "different"--The witches and demons, the wild men, the fools and fanatics. The 287 beautifully reproduced illustrations provide a striking panorama of the varying images of "insanity." -- From publisher's description.