Boaz en Ruth 1649 - 1681

François Spierre made this print, “Boaz en Ruth,” around 1670 in France. It illustrates a story from the Old Testament, presenting Boaz as a wealthy landowner encountering Ruth, a poor widow gleaning leftover grain in his fields. In Spierre’s France, class divisions were stark and heavily enforced. Here, Boaz is on horseback, elevated above the field laborers. This wasn’t just about portraying a biblical story; it reflected contemporary social hierarchies. Consider also the Cupid figure overhead, holding a banner. Such allegorical figures were common, but their presence here suggests a divine endorsement of Boaz’s social position. To truly understand this image, we need to delve into the visual culture of the time. Prints like these were not just religious illustrations; they were also tools for reinforcing social norms. Researching period texts, sermons, and even fashion trends can reveal much about the assumptions embedded in this seemingly simple biblical scene. Ultimately, art history reveals how images participate in the conversations and power dynamics of their time.