Medium
Engraving (figure by Rousselet) and etching (background by Bosse)
Dimensions
sheet: 14 5/8 x 9 11/16 in. (37.2 x 24.6 cm) plate: 13 7/16 x 8 7/16 in. (34.2 x 21.5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1966
Accession Number
66.559.72
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
### Déborah (1647) This striking 17th-century print *Déborah*, showcases a collaborative masterpiece from the golden age of French printmaking. Created in 1647, it features the central figure engraved by Gilles Rousselet, for his precise line work, while Abraham Bosse etched the atmospheric background, lending depth and texture. Publisher Pierre Mariette and designer Claude Vignon round out the team, highlighting the era's division of labor among specialists—a common practice that made complex images accessible through reproductive prints. The subject is the biblical prophetess Deborah, depicted as a formidable warrior woman wielding a sword, evoking her heroic role in the Book of Judges where she led Israel to victory. Measuring about 14½ x 9¾ inches on its sheet, this engraving-etching hybrid exemplifies Baroque drama: Rousselet's fine burin lines capture the figure's dynamic pose and flowing drapery, while Bosse's etching adds a shadowy, expansive landscape. Such techniques allowed for rich tonal contrasts, rivaling paintings in detail. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, 1966), *Déborah* reflects 17th-century fascination with empowered female figures amid religious and martial themes. It invites visitors to appreciate how prints democratized art, bridging elite workshops and everyday audiences with tales of strength and faith.
About the Artist
Abraham Bosse|Pierre Mariette|Gilles Rousselet|Claude Vignon · 1602–1676
Abraham Bosse (1604–1676) was a French printmaker and theorist whose approximately 1,600 etchings provide an unparalleled visual record of 17th-century French life. Born to Huguenot parents in Tours, he trained in Paris under Melchior Tavernier and became a devoted follower of Jacques Callot's technical innovations. Bosse's meticulous etchings depicted subjects ranging from daily life and fashion ...