The Engraver and the Etcher
1643
Medium
Etching on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Plate: 25.7 × 32.4 cm (10 1/8 × 12 13/16 in.); Sheet: 27.5 × 34 cm (10 7/8 × 13 7/16 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
72665
Art Historical Context
Abraham Bosse's *The Engraver and thecher* (1643) is a captivating etching that offers a window into the world of 17th-century print. Created on ivory laid paper—a fine, textured support prized for its ability to hold intricate lines—this work measures about 10 by 13 inches and exemplifies Bosse's mastery of the etching technique. As a leading French artist of the Baroque era, B was renowned for his realistic depictions of daily life and his pioneering role in documenting artistic processes, making this piece both a technical demonstration and a historical snapshot. The title reveals the artw...
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 ...