Initial letter T on patterned background 1520

This small print shows the letter 'T' on a patterned background, made by an anonymous artist, and its date of creation is unknown. Initial letters such as this were originally used in illuminated manuscripts, as the first letter in a chapter or paragraph of text. Over time, they came to be used in printed books, and as a form of decoration in their own right. This particular letter is in the blackletter style, a script associated with Germany during the late Middle Ages. It has a dense, elaborate, and somewhat gothic feel, appropriate for a time of deep religious conviction and social anxiety. The tangled, knotty style is typical of the period, and evokes a sense of mystery and complexity. Catalogues of early printed books, and the archives of printing workshops are useful resources for understanding the context of such images. By placing this tiny print within its social and institutional context, we can better appreciate its significance as a relic of a fascinating time.