Initial letter E on patterned background
Medium
Woodcut, criblé ground
Dimensions
Sheet: 2 1/16 × 2 3/8 in. (5.3 × 6.1 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Henry W. Kent, 1941
Accession Number
41.44.1787(2)
Art Historical Context
This charming woodcut print, titled *Initial letter E on patterned*, hails from Renaissance Italy around 1520, crafted by an anonymous artist. Measuring just over 2 inches square, it showcases a boldly ornate capital "E" set against a intricate, dotted backdrop—a perfect example of the exquisite ornamental designs that adorned books, manuscripts, and architectural elements during this era of artistic revival. The medium is a woodcut with *criblé* ground, a clever technique where the woodblock pierced with countless tiny holes to create a stippled, textured pattern when inked and printed. This...