Initial A c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have an initial "A," an anonymous piece from the Harvard Art Museums. It’s incredibly detailed, almost ornate. What strikes you about this initial? Curator: The letter "A," so often signifying beginnings, appears here within a dense ecosystem of cherubs and classical motifs. I'm curious about the original context. Was this used to denote the start of a new chapter, a new law, or perhaps a family name? And how does anonymity affect our understanding of authorship and power? Editor: That’s interesting. I hadn’t thought about the power dynamics inherent in its creation and use. Curator: Right. This piece invites us to consider the social hierarchies of literacy and artistic production. Whose stories were deemed worthy of such embellishment, and who was excluded? Editor: I see. It gives a whole new perspective to something that seemed purely decorative at first. Curator: Exactly. Even the smallest details can reveal broader social and political narratives.