Letter I c. 16th century

Curator: The Harvard Art Museums present a woodcut simply known as "Letter I" by an anonymous artist. There's a stark and beautiful simplicity to its design. Editor: Yes, it feels almost like a garden, this dense, contained space with that I, like a path leading through it. Curator: The composition certainly lends itself to that interpretation. Notice how the bold black ink creates a strong contrast with the white, almost carving out the floral motifs. Editor: It's like the negative space is just as alive as the letter itself. Makes you wonder what stories or poems began with this very I, doesn't it? Curator: Indeed. Without knowing the context, we can only speculate about its original purpose. However, it could be some decoration or initials! Editor: It does feel like a small key to something bigger, a whole world of words. Curator: It reminds me that even the smallest artistic gesture can hold immense possibility. Editor: I'll never look at the letter I the same way again.