Letter I c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have *Letter I* by an anonymous artist. It's a striking black and white image. What role might these sorts of decorative initials have played at a time before mass printing? Curator: These illuminated initials were frequently featured at the start of chapters or important sections of text. They were a public display of wealth and power, weren't they? The presence of putti or heraldic symbols reinforced social hierarchies. Editor: So, it's about visually establishing order and authority? Curator: Precisely. It guided the reader and reinforced the importance of the text, reflecting the social and political significance of literacy and knowledge. Editor: It's fascinating to think about how something seemingly decorative had such a structured role! Curator: Indeed, a testament to the power of visual language in shaping cultural narratives.