"Claricia" swinging on an initial "Q" 

This ink-on-parchment image was made around 1200 by Claricia, a female illuminator. Observe the vibrant initial ‘Q’, alive with interlaced knotwork, a common motif in medieval art symbolizing eternity and the interconnectedness of all things. Look closely! A small figure is swinging from the letter, which is labeled "Claricia." This act of visual inscription places her directly within the sacred text—a bold assertion of self. This figure recalls the ancient motif of the ‘puer aeternus’, the eternal child, symbolizing the soul's journey through life. The intertwined knot motif reminds us of the Ouroboros—the snake eating its tail—an ancient symbol of cyclical return, a form of psychic integration. The insertion of the self into the illuminated letter 'Q' suggests a negotiation of identity, as she merges her persona with sacred knowledge. This symbolizes the perpetual cycle of creativity and re-creation.