Artwork
New ABC Booklet: R
New ABC Booklet: R is a print by the Baroque artist Lucas Kilian. It dates from 1627 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
New ABC Booklet: R is a 1627 engraving by Lucas Kilian, a German printmaker from Augsburg. The work features a black letter 'R' alongside a small bird holding a book in its beak, perched on a branch.
Subject & Meaning
The composition combines a typographical element with a symbolic scene. The bird delivering a book may allude to themes of learning, knowledge, or the dissemination of information.
Technique & Style
Kilian employed chiaroscuro, leveraging strong contrasts of light and dark to create depth and visual interest. The interplay of the bold, blocky letterform with the delicate, detailed bird and branch showcases his technical skill.
History & Provenance
Created in the 1620s as part of Kilian's series of playful alphabet prints, New ABC Booklet: R is now part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.
Context
This print reflects Kilian's broader practice within the early 17th-century printmaking scene, characterized by the integration of letters with miniature illustrations, a format that anticipated later visual communication styles.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas Kilian (Lucas Kilianus Augustanus; 1579–1637) was a German engraver and etcher from the Kilian family of engravers in Augsburg.
