Letter V
1523
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1523
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Letter V is a 1523 ink by Hans Lützelburger, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a black-and-white woodcut of a large, bold letter "V" filled with a busy scene. Inside the V, two figures stand back-to-back, each holding a long staff or pole. One figure has curly hair and wears draped clothing, while the other’s face is turned away. The background is packed with small, swirling shapes—maybe clouds or waves—and a few tiny people or animals near the bottom. The sharp lines and flat black ink make the scene feel almost like a carved stamp. The figures look like they’re part of a story, but their exact meaning isn’t clear just from looking. The artist used simple shapes and strong outlines to pack a lot of detail into a small space. If you like this style, look up woodcut to see how artists carved images into wood before printing them.
