Letter D 15th-16th century

Curator: This woodcut, simply titled "Letter D," is by an anonymous artist and resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. The color strikes me first. Editor: It feels warm, like terracotta or old brick. And the way the white "D" intertwines with the orange foliage gives it a lively energy, doesn't it? Curator: Indeed. The interplay of positive and negative space creates a dynamic tension. Observe the careful hatching that defines the leaves. Editor: It’s as though the letter is growing organically out of the design itself. Makes you wonder about the lost context of the work. Curator: Perhaps originally part of a larger alphabet series? The stylistic treatment certainly invites further investigation. Editor: Definitely ignites the imagination, leaves me wanting to know more of the story. Curator: Agreed.