Letter C c. 16th century

Editor: This ornate “Letter C” from the Harvard Art Museums is by an anonymous artist and the date is unknown. It reminds me of something you'd find in an old storybook. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, initial letters like this were popular in early printed books. Their elaborate designs added visual interest but also signified wealth and status. It’s a way to make something functional beautiful, in a public way. Editor: So, it's not just decorative? Curator: Exactly. Consider the animals—a rabbit and perhaps a lion. They might hold symbolic meanings related to the text the letter begins. The public consumption of text was being shaped by symbols. Editor: That's fascinating. I'll never look at initial letters the same way again. Curator: Indeed, these images influenced culture and shaped the public experience of reading.