Capital Q c. 1527

Editor: This is an initial "Q," simply titled Capital Q, by an anonymous artist. I’m really drawn to the textures and the way the floral design interacts with the letterform. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Consider the process: a woodcut. Someone carved away material to leave this design, then it was likely used to print multiples. We need to remember the labor and skill involved in its production. How would its meaning shift depending on its context of use? Editor: That’s interesting. So it's not just about the image itself, but about how it was made and circulated? Curator: Precisely. The material and its use are equally important. Thinking about the intended audience could offer a new way of appreciation. Editor: I never considered it that way before! It definitely gives me a different perspective.