Initial P c. 16th century

Curator: This is "Initial P," an anonymous work housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s like a tiny, fierce world held within that letter! The grittiness gives it this medieval, almost primal feel. Curator: As a woodcut, the creation of this initial involved a subtractive process, demanding skilled labor to carve away the block and reveal the design. Consider the social role of printed initials in disseminating text and shaping early literacy. Editor: I see a little dragon curled up inside, guarding the meaning. It makes me think about the power words hold, how they can both illuminate and obscure. Curator: Absolutely. The image would have been reproduced many times over, each impression a result of material contact between the block, ink, and paper. The wear and tear on the block would have gradually altered the final prints. Editor: It's amazing to think of all the hands that touched this, the stories it helped tell. Tiny but mighty. Curator: Indeed, it prompts us to reflect on the interplay of art, craft, and the machinery of knowledge production. Editor: I’m taking away a renewed appreciation for the unseen labor that makes words appear on a page.