Almanach for 1639: Louis XIII and Anne of Austria Entrusting the Kingdom and the Prince under the Protection of the Virgin 1639

This engraving was made by Abraham Bosse for the year 1639. The fine lines were achieved by incising an image into a metal plate, which was then inked and pressed onto paper. Engraving was a highly skilled, specialized craft, requiring years of training. The precision demanded meticulous labor; each line carefully carved to create the illusion of depth and form. Bosse, however, wasn't just an artist; he was also an influential theorist who helped to professionalize the printmaking trade. Looking at the print's imagery, consider the parallels between the skilled labor of the printmaker and the symbolic act depicted: Louis XIII and Anne of Austria entrusting their kingdom to the Virgin Mary. Both are acts of devotion, investing labor and faith in a higher power. In this context, the print itself becomes an offering, a testament to the power of craft and belief intertwined. It reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images are born from skilled work and deep cultural values.