Letter A c. 16th century

Curator: This diminutive woodcut, titled "Letter A," is an initial from an unknown printing house. It's part of the Harvard Art Museums collection, and its original purpose was functional, part of a larger text. Editor: It feels a bit grim, doesn't it? The letter A itself is so bold, but the scene depicted within feels heavy, almost tragic. Curator: Indeed. We see several figures – some seated, others engaged in what appears to be a conflict, perhaps a judgment scene of some sort. It asks us to consider power dynamics. Editor: Absolutely. Who is judging whom? And who is being silenced or erased in the process? The artist is using familiar tropes to comment on power and privilege. Curator: It's fascinating how even something as seemingly mundane as a letterform can be imbued with such social and political weight, don't you think? Editor: Yes, it underscores how even in the most utilitarian objects, narratives of dominance and resistance can emerge.