The Apostle of Hypnotism

On Carl Hansen and the Scientific Culture in late 19th Century Sweden

Abstract

In the late winter of 1887, Danish hypnotizer Carl Hansen toured southern Sweden, mesmerizing large crowds with his spectacular stage performances. In the 1880s, hypnotism peaked both as a new and promising medical treatment and as popular entertainment. This article examines stage hypnotism in Sweden, a well-known phenomenon at the time but strangely ignored in historical research. While medical hypnosis has been studied to some extent, the meaning and impact of popular hypnotism is virtually unknown. Hansen was one of the most famous European hypnotizers and his influence on medical hypnosis has been underlined in international research. By focusing on Hansen, through an analysis of Swedish press 1880–1889, the article will examine how stage hypnotism was assessed in a confluence of science and entertainment, typical of the time. The general aim is to highlight the role of stage hypnotism in the dynamic process of knowledge production in late 19^th century Sweden.