Odoratus, L'Ordorat
1601 to 1650
Medium
engraving in black on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet (trimmed within plate mark): 24 x 32 cm (9 7/16 x 12 5/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of William B. O'Neal
Accession Number
1991.150.89
Art Historical Context
Abraham Bosse’s engraving “Odoratus, L’Ordorat,” created between 1601 and 1650, explores the theme of the sense of smell through the refined art of printmaking. Working in France during a period when engravings served as both artistic expression and accessible communication, Bosse used precise line work on laid paper to translate sensory experience into visual form. The modest sheet size of 24 by 32 centimeters allowed the image to circulate widely, bringing allegorical subjects into homes and collections beyond the reach of paintings. Engraving in black ink offered Bosse remarkable control o...
About the Artist
Abraham Bosse · 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 ...