Letter G c. 16th century

Curator: This woodcut, titled "Letter G," is by an anonymous artist. What springs to mind for you? Editor: A whirlwind of drama. Darkly shaded, quite intense, and definitely Old World. I get a sense of a medieval manuscript, perhaps? Curator: Exactly. It’s part of a series of initial letters, meant to embellish a printed text. The 'G' itself frames a rather theatrical scene. Editor: I see that. An eagle, or some winged beast, carrying off a human figure...with other figures scattered below. A dark, fantastical illustration. Curator: Initial letters were often filled with such allegorical imagery; they weren't just decorative but added another layer of meaning to the words they introduced. Editor: I find that notion intriguing. The artistry elevates the text, making it almost sacred. It’s as though the letter becomes a portal into another realm. Curator: A portal... yes, I love that idea. It does seem a bit dramatic for something as mundane as a letter. Editor: Well, maybe for the people that created it, letters weren't mundane at all. We may have lost a sense of their power.