1523
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Letter S is a 1523 ink by Hans Lützelburger, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This woodcut shows a busy scene packed into the shape of the letter "S." Two people are tangled in a web of vines, one sitting on a bench while the other leans in close. Above them, a bird perches on a branch, and below, a fish swims in water. The background is filled with swirling leaves and small figures, all squished into the tight space. The artist used sharp lines and bold shapes to fit everything into the letter’s form. This kind of puzzle-like design was a clever way to teach or decorate in the Renaissance. If you like this style, look up woodcut to see how it works.
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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