Letter M

Art Historical Context

**Letter M** *Peter Aubry, 1630* Engraving on paper, 23.4 × 20.2 cm (9 1/4 × 8 in.) Art Institute of Chicago, and Drawings Department Step into the intricate world of 17th printmaking with Peter Aubry's *Letter*, a delicate engraving from 1630. Created during the Baroque era, elaborate ornamentation flourished across Europe, this work exemplifies the period's fascination with typography and decorative arts. Aubry, a engraver likely working in France, crafted this piece as part of what may have been an alphabetic series, showcasing the letter "M" in a stylized, possibly historiated form—common in books, manuscripts, and architectural designs of the time. Engraving, the medium here, involved etching lines into a copper plate with a burin, inking it, and pressing onto paper to produce precise, reproducible images. This technique revolutionized art dissemination, allowing intricate details to reach wider audiences beyond paintings. At just over 9 by 8 inches, *Letter M* invites close inspection, revealing the engraver's mastery of line work and texture. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings collection, it offers a window into how letters were elevated to art, blending utility with aesthetic splendor for scholars, printers, and collectors alike.