1523
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Letter M is a 1523 ink by Hans Lützelburger, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a woodcut of a giant letter "M" filled with strange figures. The letter’s top curves like a crown, with rays shooting out behind it. Inside, three skeletal-looking people stand in a row, holding long sticks. One has a hood, another wears a hat, and the third looks like a ghostly face. The sides of the letter frame smaller scenes: a person sitting on a stool on the left, and a winged creature on the right. The skeletons look like they’re part of a parade or a warning. The rays behind the crown might mean something important, but it’s hard to tell without more context. If you like this spooky style, look up woodcut to see how artists carved these images long ago.
Hans Lützelburger (died June 1526), also known as Hans Franck, was a German blockcutter ("formschneider") for woodcuts, regarded as one of the finest of his day.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
