diff --git a/imagemonk/_server.py b/imagemonk/_server.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c003f94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/imagemonk/_server.py
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+import flask
+
+from imagemonk import __about__
+from imagemonk import configuration
+from imagemonk import constants
+from imagemonk import database
+from imagemonk import exceptions
+from imagemonk.resources import ResponseHeaders
+
+
+def make_the_tea() -> None:
+    """Just for fun
+    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyper_Text_Coffee_Pot_Control_Protocol
+    """
+    if flask.request.content_type == "message/coffeepot":
+        raise exceptions.IAmATeapotError(
+            f"Coffee brewing request for '{flask.request.path}' cannot be completed by teapot application"
+        )
+
+
+def initialize_database() -> None:
+    """Initialize the database connection"""
+    database.initialize(flask.current_app.appconfig)
+
+
+class ImageMonkRequest(flask.Request):
+    """Extend the default Flask request object to add custom application state settings"""
+
+    def make_response_headers(self) -> ResponseHeaders:
+        """Create the headers dictionary of the standard response headers
+
+        This function should be used when determining response headers so that the header names,
+        their contents, and formatting are universal.
+
+        :returns: Dictionary of headers
+        """
+
+        return {
+            constants.HTTP_HEADER_RESPONSE_VERSION: __about__.__version__,
+        }
+
+
+class ImageMonkFlask(flask.Flask):
+    """Extend the default Flask object to add the custom application config
+
+    There's probably an easier/more kosher way to do this, but ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯
+    """
+
+    request_class = ImageMonkRequest
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+        self.appconfig: configuration.ImageMonkConfig = configuration.load()
diff --git a/imagemonk/application.py b/imagemonk/application.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9454ade
--- /dev/null
+++ b/imagemonk/application.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import flask_restful
+
+from imagemonk import resources
+from imagemonk._server import ImageMonkFlask
+from imagemonk._server import initialize_database
+from imagemonk._server import make_the_tea
+
+
+APPLICATION = ImageMonkFlask(__name__)
+API = flask_restful.Api(APPLICATION, catch_all_404s=True)
+
+
+def _set_upload_limit() -> None:
+    APPLICATION.config["MAX_CONTENT_LENGTH"] = APPLICATION.appconfig.upload.size_limit
+
+
+APPLICATION.before_request(make_the_tea)
+APPLICATION.before_first_request(initialize_database)
+APPLICATION.before_first_request(_set_upload_limit)
+
+for resource in resources.RESOURCES:
+    API.add_resource(resource, *resource.routes)
diff --git a/imagemonk/resources/__init__.py b/imagemonk/resources/__init__.py
index 2dcc921..de54f85 100644
--- a/imagemonk/resources/__init__.py
+++ b/imagemonk/resources/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 from typing import Tuple
 
 from imagemonk.resources._shared import ImageMonkResource
+from imagemonk.resources._shared import ResponseBody
+from imagemonk.resources._shared import ResponseHeaders
 from imagemonk.resources.image import Image
 from imagemonk.resources.image import ImageUpload
 from imagemonk.resources.openapi import OpenAPI