Letter S c. 16th century

Curator: Just look at this little "Letter S," from the Harvard Art Museums, origin unknown. I find it delightfully contained and potent. Editor: It feels so medieval, so illuminated! The floral filigree makes it seem like a secret garden surrounding a serpentine path. Curator: Absolutely. The "S" itself, a winding river, almost escapes its botanical confines. It has such life in it! Editor: The letter "S" is so often associated with temptation, secrets, and the sinuous. This one hints at that complexity but with a strangely wholesome feel. Curator: It's true! You can feel its mystery but the black-and-white graphic design provides a structural balance. Editor: It's almost like the "S" is a portal, an invitation to a story we're just catching a glimpse of. Curator: Exactly, and a reminder that even the smallest of images can hold infinite stories. Editor: It's a testament to how symbols can be so potent and evocative.