Letter G c. 17th century

Curator: Look here, we have a print titled "Letter G," created by an anonymous artist, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Immediately, I'm drawn to the cherubic figure nestled within the letter—it feels almost dreamlike, yet slightly unsettling, given its context. Curator: Yes, these initial letters were quite popular. It’s fascinating to think about their role as markers of status and access to literacy in a time when these were not universally available. Editor: Right, and the cherub's presence—is it purely decorative, or does it hint at deeper societal values around innocence, even privilege, being intertwined with knowledge? Curator: That's a fair point. The inclusion of flora too, suggests a kind of cultivated knowledge perhaps? It seems the letter itself embodies a world. Editor: Perhaps even a gendered one. I'm just thinking about what it means to present knowledge as something so seemingly innocent and pure, but also so carefully curated. Curator: It's definitely a reminder that even seemingly simple images can reveal complex power dynamics. Editor: Absolutely. It highlights the intersection of art, knowledge, and social structures in ways that still resonate today.