Initial O c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have "Initial O," made by an anonymous artist. It has a really intriguing, almost rough quality to it. What can you tell us about the process of making this piece? Curator: Well, the process is paramount here. Consider the labor involved in carving the block for printing, the paper's materiality, the ink used. This wasn't high art; it was a functional object, replicated for a specific purpose. Editor: So, less about artistic expression, more about mass production and utility? Curator: Exactly. It's about the system of production, the social context of its use, and how it challenges our notions of fine art versus craft. It makes one consider the economic realities embedded within art. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't fully considered. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure!