Letter L c. 16th century

Curator: This is the Letter L, an anonymous piece from the Harvard Art Museums. It feels almost like a riddle, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely, it evokes a sense of playful bewilderment, like stumbling upon a secret society’s initial. The ornate details suggest a hidden language of power. Curator: Or maybe just a really extra illuminated manuscript! Look at the fantastical creatures interwoven—a winged figure, some sort of beast... it's like a mini bestiary contained within a letter. It also strikes me as a visual representation of the old saying, "Learn as you go." Editor: Perhaps it also represents the power of the patriarchy; the letter form is very clearly phallic. This L, like so many cultural symbols, could easily signify "liberty" or "lies," depending on who you ask. Curator: I do like that ambiguity. It makes me want to rewrite the definitions, reclaim the narrative, make this L something that sings. Editor: Indeed. A single letter, yet a whole world of meaning packed within its lines.