The Ratcatcher 1630 - 1676

Abraham Bosse created this print, now at the Met, capturing a ratcatcher with his macabre tools. Rats, historically symbols of plague and decay, are prominently displayed, hanging from a pole and adorning his person, signifying his grim profession. Consider the medieval Dance of Death, where death is often depicted leading figures from all walks of life, a stark reminder of mortality. Here, the ratcatcher, surrounded by the emblems of death, becomes a figure akin to the grim reaper, his trade a constant confrontation with mortality. This motif echoes through art history, reminding us of our collective subconscious anxieties about death and disease, reappearing during times of crisis. Like a recurring nightmare, these symbols resurface, evolving in meaning yet retaining their primal power, a testament to the enduring force of cultural memory.