Head- or Tail-piece c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have an intriguing print, titled "Head- or Tail-piece," by an anonymous artist, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The texture of the paper seems quite coarse. Editor: It's a playful piece, isn't it? The cherubic face emerging from the leafy garland, symmetrical, but also slightly unsettling in its gaze. Curator: Indeed, the woodcut technique, I suspect, lends itself to that starkness. Imagine the labor involved in carving such detail. Think of its original function in the book-making process. Editor: And what does this recurring motif of putti and foliage tell us? Perhaps a yearning for innocence or a connection to nature in a world increasingly dominated by text? Curator: Or, more pragmatically, a way to ornament and elevate the printed page, a product of considerable skill and industry? Editor: Yes, though its symbolic weight shouldn't be dismissed; it transcends the immediate material function. It's a portal to understanding the era's cultural aspirations. Curator: A fascinating blend of the sacred and the functional. Food for thought. Editor: Precisely, a fleeting glimpse into the past.