Youth 1636

This print, “Youth,” was made by Abraham Bosse in the 17th century, using the technique of etching. He would have coated a copper plate with wax, then scratched an image into the wax with a sharp needle. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the exposed metal. Finally, the plate was inked and printed onto paper. Bosse was one of the great popularizers of printmaking, showing others how to use etching to create accurate, reproducible images. His clarity of line is evident here. The etching medium allowed Bosse to capture the fashions and settings of his time. Prints like this were luxury goods. Though more affordable than paintings, they were purchased by the rising middle class. The image itself, of lovers in a garden, reflects a romantic ideal, and the detailed textures of clothing and landscape speak to the growing consumerism of the era. In the end, “Youth” shows how the print medium became a perfect vehicle for conveying aspirational lifestyles.