Letter H 15th-16th century

Editor: This is the letter "H", made by an anonymous artist. It's at the Harvard Art Museums, and I'm struck by how ornate it is. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a reflection of power dynamics embedded within literacy itself. Who had access to knowledge? Who controlled its dissemination? This letter, likely part of a larger printing initiative, hints at the exclusivity of early print culture. Consider also, the role of ornamentation. Editor: Ornamentation? Curator: Yes. It’s not merely decorative, but a visual marker of status, isn’t it? It speaks to the wealth and privilege associated with the written word, and who were excluded. Editor: I never thought of it that way. It's amazing how much history is contained in a single letter. Curator: Precisely. It reminds us to question the narratives around even the most seemingly simple objects.