Letter I c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have an initial, "Letter I" by an anonymous artist. It's quite decorative! All that foliage surrounding the letter gives it a regal feel. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see the disruption of power structures. The initial "I" traditionally signifies authority, but here it's subsumed by the natural world, challenging patriarchal norms. It asks: who controls the narrative? Editor: That's a unique take. I hadn't considered the symbolism of the letter itself in terms of power. Curator: Exactly. It invites us to question the very foundations upon which knowledge and authority are built. Editor: So interesting, I'll never look at an initial the same way again. Curator: And hopefully, you’ll question other symbols too.