Letter N 15th-16th century

Curator: Here we have "Letter N," an anonymous work residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. What springs to mind? Editor: It looks like it's trying to escape its own frame! It’s so claustrophobic. Curator: Interesting! Block letters like this often appeared as decorated initials at the beginning of a chapter. Notice the human form nestled into the negative space. Editor: It's got such a peculiar, almost startled expression. Are those wings? The letter almost becomes a protective embrace. Curator: Yes, a bit like a guardian. I see this letter as a portal—a gateway to a story, a word, an idea, forever captured. Editor: A tiny, powerful little nudge into imagination, wouldn't you say? It’s intriguing to think of all the stories it could begin.