Waterlansier 1629 - 1630

Abraham Bosse created this etching titled Waterlansier, a French term for a type of fisherman, most likely in Paris sometime in the mid-17th century. Bosse was known for his detailed depictions of contemporary French society. This image offers us a glimpse into the social and economic life of the time, with an emphasis on the laboring classes. Here, we see a man equipped for fishing, walking through the countryside. The landscape is sparsely populated. The text below the image suggests the fisherman has the power to purify the water, a metaphor maybe for the social role of the working man. France in the 17th century was a society undergoing significant transformation, with a growing divide between the wealthy elite and the working class. The Catholic church was central to French society at the time. To understand this print, scholars might consult period documents, histories of French society, or even religious texts. Art like this serves as a window into the past, reflecting the values, beliefs, and social structures of its time.