Initial S c. 16th century

Editor: So this woodcut, “Initial S” by an anonymous artist, is bursting with life. Cherubs, dogs, even a little bird – what do you make of this miniature world? Curator: It's like a tiny stage, isn't it? Each character playing a role in some unknown drama. I see nature intertwined with the letter, maybe hinting that language itself springs from the natural world? What do you think? Editor: That's cool, I hadn't thought of that. It feels like the letter is the backdrop rather than the subject. Curator: Exactly! The "S" becomes a vessel. These illuminated letters were a common form, so perhaps this "S" introduced a story, now lost to time. Editor: It is definitely intriguing to imagine what story came next. Curator: Indeed. It's a reminder that art often invites us to fill in the blanks with our own imaginations.