The Prodigal Son Guarding Pigs 1631 - 1641

Abraham Bosse made this engraving, *The Prodigal Son Guarding Pigs*, in France in the 17th century. Here, the artist worked with metal, using tools to incise lines into the plate’s surface, which then held ink to produce the print. The degree of control this process allows is really on display here, in the details of the landscape and the fine lines describing the figure’s clothing. Engraving demands a methodical, highly skilled approach, requiring years of training to master. In this artwork, Bosse has depicted the biblical parable of the Prodigal Son, who squandered his inheritance and was reduced to guarding pigs. It’s interesting to consider this story alongside the intense labor of printmaking. Both involve physical work, and both have a social dimension. Printmaking allowed images to be widely disseminated, reaching a broad audience. And the story reminds us that labor – even the most menial tasks – have dignity and value. By attending to the material and process of this artwork, we can understand its meaning and the social context in which it was made.