Letter V in een geornamenteerde omlijsting 17th century

This 17th-century print, "Letter V in een geornamenteerde omlijsting," is an example of a decorative initial, a common element in printed books and manuscripts. The letter V is framed by a complex, swirling design of foliate motifs, characteristic of the Renaissance and Baroque styles. This type of letter design, known as a "flourish," often served as a visual cue to emphasize the start of a new chapter, section, or verse. The intricate detail and delicate lines of the design are characteristic of printmaking techniques of the time. Such decorative initials added artistic interest and provided visual appeal for the text that followed.