Feeding the Hungry 1635

Abraham Bosse made this print called *Feeding the Hungry* sometime in the mid-17th century. Here he's used etching, a printmaking process that was becoming increasingly popular in France. This image participates in a long history of art concerned with charity and moralizing about the duties of the rich towards the poor. This kind of subject matter became more visible during the period because the Catholic Church, traditionally the institution responsible for poor relief, came under scrutiny. Bosse’s print directly references the rise of secular notions of philanthropy. The well-dressed figures on the right offer food to the poor people on the left. An inscription below urges the wealthy to give alms to redeem themselves of their sins. Bosse likely took inspiration from religious texts and sermons. Understanding the socio-economic conditions in 17th-century France, the history of poor relief, and the theological debates of the time are all crucial to a fuller understanding of this artwork. Historians use a variety of sources, including archival documents, religious tracts, and economic data, to contextualize artworks like this one.