Capital V c. 1527

Curator: Here we have an anonymous print called "Capital V," held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's striking how a simple letterform can be so evocative. Editor: It feels almost medieval, doesn’t it? The black and white contrast, the floral details—it reminds me of illuminated manuscripts, and the labor invested in producing them. Curator: Exactly! Consider the socio-economic context: the shift from laborious hand-copying to printmaking, the accessibility of knowledge and its potential for empowering marginalized voices. Editor: And the “V” itself—what might it represent? Victory? Vulnerability? The artist leaves that open to interpretation, perhaps reflecting on the power structures inherent in language itself. The anonymous artist adds another layer of intrigue. Curator: Yes, anonymity pushes us to consider the collaborative, often invisible, labor involved in the production and dissemination of this kind of image. Editor: It highlights the objecthood and value of the image within a system of exchange. Curator: A poignant reminder that even seemingly simple forms carry deep historical and material weight. Editor: Definitely makes you rethink the power of the alphabet.