Initial S c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have an Initial S, by an anonymous artist, housed here at Harvard Art Museums. The composition, with the cherubs and animals, feels quite lively. What stands out to you? Curator: I see the woodcut as a product of labor, where the craftsman meticulously carved each line. Think about the tools, the skill, and the time involved in creating something like this for mass production. Consider how its availability shaped literacy, knowledge, and even social hierarchies. Editor: So, you're focusing on the means of its creation and distribution, rather than just the image itself? Curator: Precisely. The materiality and the process of making it are key to understanding its impact. What do you think about its function within society? Editor: That's given me a new perspective to consider. I now see it as a commodity and a tool, not just an image.