1523
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Letter N is a 1523 ink by Hans Lützelburger, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This woodcut shows a busy scene framed like a box. On the left, a man in a long robe holds a staff and looks down at a smaller figure kneeling. Above him, a fierce face peers from a window, gripping a sword. On the right, a skeleton leans on a shovel, watching the action. The background has a roof and a small tower, with clouds and a moon in the sky. The mix of a scholar, a warrior, and death suggests this isn’t just letters—it’s a story. The artist used sharp lines and simple shapes to pack a lot into a small space. Want to see more like this? Try looking up woodcut.
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.
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