Rhinophyma in literature and the arts

The nose is the prominent part of our face. Its look often determines a good part of its owner's image. Rhinophyma is a malformation of the nose of unknown etiology that is often mistakenly associated with drinking alcohol. This rare but definitely eye-catching nasal deformation has found interest not only among doctors but among poets and artists throughout the ages. We attempt to follow this disease from the old Maya culture up to the present century, using known pieces of art, as well as literary quotations.