Letter H c. 16th century

Editor: This woodcut print, "Letter H," is by an anonymous artist. The intricate details are incredible. What can you tell me about the process of making such a piece? Curator: Let's consider the labor involved in carving such fine lines into wood, and then printing it. Was this functional, decorative, or both? The social context of mass-produced letterforms opens a fascinating discussion. Editor: So, it's less about the art and more about the work that went into it? Curator: Precisely! The repeated impression collapses high art and craft. What does that labor tell us about the value placed on reproducible images? Editor: I never thought of it that way. It gives me a whole new perspective. Curator: Indeed, materiality matters, even in the smallest of artworks.