Initial letter D with putto

Art Historical Context

Created around 1538 by the German artist Heinrich Vogtherr the Elder, this delicate woodcut presents an ornate initial letter “D” enlivened by a charming putto. Vogtherr, active during the Reformation, specialized in designs that merged typography with lively figural ornament, helping to beautify the printed page at a time when books were rapidly multiplying across Europe. Measuring just under two inches square, the tiny block was intended for use in printed books, where such decorative initials marked the beginning of chapters or important texts. The woodcut technique allowed these small motifs to be reproduced in large numbers, spreading Renaissance tastes for classical motifs—here embodied by the playful putto—into everyday reading material. Today preserved in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection of prints and ornament, the piece offers a glimpse into how 16th-century artists turned functional letters into miniature works of art, enriching both the visual and intellectual experience of early printed books.