Schrijfvoorbeeld: Litera Graeca 1614

Jodocus Hondius created this print titled 'Schrijfvoorbeeld: Litera Graeca', sometime before 1612. The design is a study in contrasts, most evidently between the graphic elements surrounding a block of text. The border is a symmetrical arrangement of curves, scrolls and grotesque figures. Winged cherubs rest at the top, while hybrid satyr-like figures emerge from swirling tendrils on either side. At the base a lion's head offers a stern, formal counterpoint. The text itself is bracketed by two rows of Greek alphabets. It’s set in a simple, unadorned font which offers a clear, legible structure. The combination of fantastical imagery and formal typography suggests a tension between ornamentation and order. Hondius uses the grotesque to frame and contain the rational script. This contrast embodies the period's interest in both classical learning and the imaginative possibilities of the natural world.