The Letter "K"
1466
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1466
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This print shows a man with a long beard and a hat, holding a tall cross-shaped object. Around him are strange creatures: a winged figure with a cat’s head, a lion, and a small human-like figure with a bow and arrow. The whole scene is packed with swirling patterns and sharp lines, all in black and white. The man’s face looks like the letter "K" if you squint. This was a clever way to teach letters using pictures—common in old books. Look up engraving to see how artists carved these lines into metal.
