Letter E c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have the woodcut, "Letter E," by an anonymous artist, housed in the Harvard Art Museums. It’s striking how much detail they packed into such a small space. How do you even begin to interpret something like this? Curator: Well, first, let's appreciate that it’s an initial! Imagine the artisan crafting entire illuminated manuscripts. I wonder, what stories do you think this letter might be introducing? Editor: It feels very biblical, maybe something about healing, given the figures depicted. What grabs you most? Curator: The sheer density, really. It’s like the artist was trying to cram the whole world into the humble letter "E." It kind of makes you want to start your own illuminated manuscript, doesn’t it? Editor: Definitely! It makes me want to understand the stories even more. Curator: Exactly! Art sparks curiosity, and that's a beautiful thing.