Post Tenebras Lux

The rallying cry of the Reformation, “Post Tenebras Lux” was taken from the Latin Vulgate section of Job, which says “Post tenebras spero lucem” (After darkness, I hope for light). It is, I think, a great reminder that darkness is temporal. Even Job, who went through more heartache than I can imagine, was able to hope for light again. I wanted to convey the idea of hope in the midst of despair through a typographic rendering of this phrase using a type style familiar to the beginnings of the Reformation. The letters developed here are the basis for Schwarzlicht, a typeface I am working on.

This piece is made of two pieces of glass, giving dimension to the gilded sections. The first piece is reverse-gilded with 22K gold leaf, the second in 12K (looks silver). A mat and piece of black Neenah Plike paper were added before framing.