Letter D c. 15th century

Editor: Here we have "Letter D," by an anonymous artist. It’s a striking block print. What can you tell me about the cultural function of something like this? Curator: Consider how the mechanization of printing democratized access to information. An image like this, infinitely reproducible, transformed literacy and visual culture, influencing how information and identity were disseminated across social strata. How does the anonymity play into this diffusion? Editor: It makes the image feel more universal. I guess I hadn't considered the political implications of letterforms before. Curator: Exactly. And the choice of letter, the font, and its ornamentation are all culturally significant, aren't they? What do you think of when you look at it now? Editor: I suppose it feels more powerful. It reminds me how much intentionality goes into every visual message we consume.