Letter N c. 15th century

Editor: This is "Letter N" by an anonymous artist, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a detailed black and white design. What kind of historical context can you tell me about these illuminated letters? Curator: These decorative letters, often found in manuscripts, weren't just pretty. They were powerful symbols of literacy and privilege in a society where access to knowledge was carefully controlled. How do you see that playing out here? Editor: I hadn't considered it that way, more about aesthetics. So, the very act of creating and viewing this letter reinforces social stratification? Curator: Precisely. And look at the intertwined designs. They evoke a sense of exclusivity, hinting at the complex networks of power and patronage that supported artistic production. The letter becomes a visual representation of hierarchy and access. Editor: That gives me a lot to consider about the role of art in society. Curator: Indeed, it prompts us to question whose stories are being told and who has the power to tell them.