Letter I c. 16th century

Editor: This is Hans Holbein the Younger's "Letter I". It's a woodcut, and the figures surrounding the letter seem to be children. What do you see in this piece, especially considering its time? Curator: Well, the cherubic figures, seemingly innocent, belie a complex social reality. Holbein worked during a period of immense social upheaval. How might this seemingly decorative initial also speak to then-current power structures and perhaps inequalities, given the historical context of child labor and social stratification in the 16th century? Editor: That’s something I hadn’t considered at all. Thank you for reframing how I view it. Curator: Precisely. Art provides commentary that encourages us to question and reflect on social issues.