Spring 1635 - 1637

Abraham Bosse created this engraving, "Spring", sometime in the 17th century. Bosse lived during a period of significant social and political change in France, including the reign of Louis XIV and the rise of absolutism. Here, an aristocratic couple is depicted in an idealized garden setting; they embody the refined elegance valued by the French court. The woman, adorned in luxurious fabrics, holds a fan, while a cherubic figure offers a basket overflowing with nature's bounty. The print subtly emphasizes the gendered expectations of the time, in which women were frequently represented as symbols of beauty and fertility. The work maintains traditional representations of wealth and status, but does so with great attention to detail. Bosse invites us to reflect on how social hierarchies and gender roles were carefully constructed and performed in the visual culture of the 17th century. It gives us a glimpse into the lives of the privileged class, while also prompting us to consider the broader social context in which such images circulated.