The Ratcatcher

Abraham Bosse

mid to late 17th century · Etching; second state of two · Drawings and Prints

"A noble gentleman who in combat made the whole earth tremble, Through a misfortune of war goes crying death to rats." Bosse, who wrote a treatise on etching based on the innovations of Jacq"ues Callot-with whom he had worked-and who developed a new means of perspective construction that he taught in the French Royal Academy for over a decade, is best known for his numerous prints of everyday Parisian life. In his series of twelve itinerant tradesmen, the crisp and controlled etched line and the precisely defined spatial settings lend polish to the figures, even to the ragged, peg-legged rat catcher.

Artist

Abraham Bosse

Date

mid to late 17th century

Medium

Etching; second state of two

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Purchase, The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1960