Letter Q c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have "Letter Q," a piece from an anonymous artist held within the Harvard Art Museums. I find the ornamental letter to be quite striking. Editor: It’s got a rough charm to it, almost like folk art meets heraldry. The textures created by the woodcut are really what grab my attention. Curator: The letter itself seems to frame a narrative, almost theatrical. Note the figures, perhaps representations of river deities, flanking the shield. Editor: Right, and they appear to be holding weapons! I imagine the carving itself was a labor-intensive process, each line meticulously etched. I wonder if this was part of a larger series, maybe an alphabet. Curator: It almost certainly was. These initial letters often appeared in early printed books, signaling a new chapter. The imagery likely added another layer of meaning to the text. Editor: It's fascinating how such a small object encapsulates so much about the culture of bookmaking and image production. Curator: Indeed. It reminds us that even the smallest details can tell a grand story about the history of printing, publishing, and readership. Editor: It makes you consider all the hands involved, from the carver to the printer to the reader.