Initial N c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have "Initial N" by an anonymous artist. I’m struck by the dense floral pattern packed into this tiny square. What social function might these decorated initials have served? Curator: Well, think about literacy and power. Who was allowed to read and write? The elaborate design elevates the letterform beyond mere utility, turning it into a symbol of status. Consider the labor involved—whose stories were being written and whose were being erased? Editor: So, it's not just a pretty letter, it reflects a system of privilege? Curator: Precisely. It invites us to question the structures of knowledge production. The initial marks the beginning, but whose beginning are we talking about? Editor: That’s a powerful way to look at something so small! Curator: Art provides such rich opportunities for considering intersecting issues of power and beauty.