Letter L c. 16th century

Curator: This is an anonymous artwork titled "Letter L," held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Intricate! It's like a garden bursting forth from the very shape of the letter itself. Curator: Initial letters like these frequently appeared at the opening of chapters or important passages in illuminated manuscripts. The letter, so stylized, becomes a symbol of beginnings. Editor: The dynamism of the swirling foliage is captivating; see how the lines create movement, almost as if the plants are reaching out? Curator: There’s a certain tension here too, wouldn't you say? The controlled lines of the letter form contain this organic energy, suggesting the artist's, or perhaps society’s, attempt to tame nature. Editor: I agree. It's this play between structure and freedom that makes it so compelling. Curator: Indeed, it speaks volumes, even without knowing who created it. Editor: A tiny universe unto itself.