Man Singing and Playing a Lute 1630 - 1676

Abraham Bosse created this engraving, "Man Singing and Playing a Lute," in France during the 17th century. The image depicts a man in elaborate dress, casually posed while playing music. Prints like this one played an important role in shaping social norms. They circulated widely and were relatively inexpensive and accessible to a broad audience. The figure's dress and leisure activities would have been recognizable to viewers as markers of class, and the print likely functioned as a guide to proper behavior among the French elite. Moreover, prints played a vital role in art education. Academic institutions, such as the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, used prints to disseminate authorized styles and subjects. Bosse himself became a professor at the Academy, and his treatise on engraving helped to solidify its practices. To understand this artwork, we can look to period publications about fashion, music, and social etiquette. By examining these materials, along with institutional records and historical studies, we can learn more about the cultural values and social structures of 17th-century France.