Letter V Used by the Brothers De Gregoriis c. 16th century

Curator: The Harvard Art Museums hold this woodcut block, "Letter V Used by the Brothers De Gregoriis," created by an anonymous artist. Editor: The dense floral motif gives the letter a vibrant, almost rebellious energy, wouldn't you agree? Curator: Absolutely, and considering the De Gregoriis brothers were known for their printing work, one wonders what kinds of texts were emblazoned with such imagery, potentially texts of subversive political importance? Editor: I imagine the visual impact of such intricate work would have been immediately striking, lending legitimacy and authority to the printed word in an age when literacy was not widespread. Curator: Indeed. It certainly encourages one to consider the power of both text and image in shaping social and political discourse. Editor: It's incredible to think about the stories this single letter could have helped tell.