Portret van Lodewijk XIII in een krans van palmtakken 1635

This engraving of Louis XIII in a wreath of palm branches was created by Abraham Bosse in Paris, around 1635. Bosse was a key figure in disseminating artistic theories through printmaking, and this portrait exemplifies the era's visual rhetoric of power. The image presents Louis XIII as an icon of justice and virtue, framed by symbolic palm branches. These references aren't accidental; they reflect the cultural and political climate of France under his rule. Louis XIII sought to consolidate royal power, and images like this were carefully crafted to project an image of strength and legitimacy. Prints like these also circulated within a specific institutional context. Produced and sold in Paris, they catered to a market eager for royal imagery. To fully understand this work, we might consult period writings on kingship, delve into the history of printmaking, and explore the political events shaping Louis XIII's reign. Art is always part of a broader world.