Initial M c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have "Initial M," an anonymous piece residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Oh, look, it's an initial, like a fancy monogram! It feels so raw and earthy, almost like it was pulled straight from a medieval forest. Curator: These illuminated initials often denoted the start of significant passages in illuminated manuscripts, marking moments of elevated importance. Editor: The way the leaves curl around the letter, it's almost as if nature is trying to reclaim language itself! It suggests stories whispered by trees and written by the wind. Curator: Indeed, and the institutional framework that standardized these initials facilitated the dissemination of knowledge and cultural values. Editor: I keep wondering what stories this letter started. What secrets it unveiled. This is just a fragment of a larger world, don’t you think? Curator: That's a very poignant observation. The power of the fragment lies in its ability to trigger endless imagination.