Initial S c. 16th century

Curator: This woodcut, titled "Initial S," is an anonymous piece held at the Harvard Art Museums. It presents a striking example of early typography. Editor: It feels like a tiny world contained, doesn't it? All that dense, almost frantic, texture packed into a single letter. Curator: Indeed. The initial "S," beyond its function in language, becomes a site where nature and culture intersect. We can consider the implications of anonymity here. Who was producing these letters, and what were their roles within the broader socio-political context of printmaking? Editor: It’s funny, without knowing the artist, the letter itself almost becomes a character. It seems so alive with all those birds and branches—like it's whispering secrets. Curator: Precisely. We must acknowledge the power dynamics embedded in systems of literacy. Access to letters and the ability to interpret them have historically been gatekept, reinforcing existing hierarchies. Editor: I like how we’ve managed to uncover such depth in something so small. Curator: Absolutely. And by examining it through different lenses, we've expanded its potential meaning.