Decorated Roman alphabet 1485 - 1499

This tiny, anonymous print from the Roman alphabet shows us the letter ‘E’ rendered in ink on paper. Notice how the anonymous artist has used a woodblock to bring it into being: a relatively quick way to duplicate this letter, but also a technique demanding great skill in carving, composition, and printing. The block has been cut to create a dense filigree of black ink, surrounding delicate white lines that make up a little story. We see a man holding a lantern, surrounded by fanciful blooms. The ink itself gives the image its character - dense and velvety. The artist would have had to control the pressure of the printing process carefully, as the smallest error could smudge the image. This kind of printmaking democratized the written word, enabling the relatively swift production and distribution of images and information. In its own way, this modest alphabet is as impressive an achievement as any painting. It closes the gap between script, design, and production.