Air 1630

Abraham Bosse created this engraving, "Air," in the 17th century, a time when scientific exploration began influencing artistic representations of the natural world. Here, the element of air is personified through a noble woman, elegantly dressed, with a bird perched on her finger. In the background, we see figures hunting, subtly reflecting the dominion humans exert over the natural world. The inscription declares: "Kings court me, the world is my Empire". This suggests the power of air, essential to all life, transcends earthly authority. The artwork exists in the crosscurrents of scientific curiosity and aristocratic power. Bosse uses traditional allegorical forms to express new ideas about humanity's relationship to the environment. This piece invites us to reflect on our place within the natural world, a relationship both intimate and exploitative.