Max Brodel (1870-1941) and medical illustration in urology

Purpose: Max Brodel (1870-1941) is known as one of the major medical illust rators of the turn of the last century. Some important aspects of his biogr aphy and his influence on illustration in the specialty of urology are disc ussed. Materials and Methods: The German artist Brodel was invited to The Johns Ho pkins Hospital, Baltimore in 1894 and soon became a well-known illustrator in gynecology. He introduced new innovative art media, such as his carbon d ust and stipple board technique to reproduce vivid tissue, while developing an instructive and didactic manner of medical illustration. He is also kno wn as an anatomist and scientist, mainly for his description of an avascula r area of the kidney (Brodel's bloodless line) and an improved method of ne phropexy using a suture that he designed. Results: In 1911 Max Brodel became head of the first Department of Art as A pplied to Medicine, establishing the profession of medical illustration. In addition to some work for Hugh Hampton Young, his most important influence on urology was through his student William P. Didusch, who was a medical i llustrator at the Brady Urological Institute in Baltimore for more than 40 years. Conclusions: Brodel changed the appearance of medical illustration at the b eginning of the 20th century and improved its role in medical literature. M ax Brodel should be referred to as the man who put art into medicine.