Letter D c. 18th century

Editor: This is "Letter D," a small print by an anonymous artist at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels almost like a tiny stage. What stories do you think it's trying to tell? Curator: It’s fascinating how initial letters were often used to signal power. Notice the classical figure—could she be a representation of knowledge, offering enlightenment? Editor: It looks like she's holding a lamp. Curator: Exactly. And observe how she's framed within the letter itself, suggesting knowledge as a foundation. Perhaps this initial "D" served as a symbolic gateway into texts intended for a select, educated audience. The imagery feels very gendered, doesn't it? Editor: Definitely food for thought on how access to knowledge was historically shaped! Curator: Precisely, and that's the power of art—to reveal those structures.