Letter I

Art Historical Context

**Letter I** by Peter Aub, created in 1630, is a delicate engraving on paper measuring 22.6 15.5 cm, housed in the Art Institute Chicago's Prints and Drawings. This work exemplifies the meticulous craft of 17th-centurymaking during the Baroque era, when engravings served as vital tools for reproducing intricate designs for books, manuscripts, and decorative arts. The title "Letter I suggests it forms part of an ornamental alphabet series, where oversized initials like this one were prized for their elaborate flourishes, blending calligraphy with figural motifs to enhance illuminated texts. Engraving, Aubry's chosen medium, involved incising fine lines into a copper plate with a burin, then inking and printing onto paper—a labor-intensive technique that allowed for precise detail and multiple impressions. This innovation democratized access to high-art ornamentation, influencing architecture, furniture, and typography across Europe. In 1630, amid France's artistic flowering under Louis XIII, such prints captured the era's taste for dynamic, curvaceous forms inspired by classical antiquity and nature. Visitors will appreciate how **Letter I** invites closer inspection, revealing the engraver's mastery in texture and shadow. It's a window into a time when the alphabet itself became a canvas for creativity, bridging art and everyday literacy.