Letter L c. 16th century

Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the intricate, almost frantic linework here. Editor: This is an initial "L", an anonymous woodcut now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. What strikes me is how this simple letterform becomes a site of dense ornamentation, reflecting the cultural moment of its creation. Curator: Absolutely, the details in this letter! Look at the face with horns interwoven into the design; it's captivating and perhaps even a bit subversive. What materials would have been used to create this? Editor: My eye goes to the craft: the labor-intensive carving process and the paper itself. You can almost feel the maker's hand as they meticulously removed material to create this object. Curator: And beyond just aesthetics, it likely served a specific social function, tied to literacy and even class. Editor: Precisely. Thinking about the work and the historical context offers multiple entry points. Curator: Agreed, it makes me consider the power imbued in letters, even isolated like this one. Editor: For me, it is the marriage of process and social function, a testament to the maker and their intent.