Initial T c. 15th century

Editor: Here we have the "Initial T" by an anonymous artist. It's a beautiful block print from the Harvard Art Museums. The detail is incredible! What strikes you most about the materials and production of this work? Curator: It’s fascinating to consider the labor involved. Each dot, each line, carefully carved to create a reproducible image. How does its function as potentially mass-produced affect your understanding of its artistic value? Editor: I hadn't thought about the tension between art and utility. So, it’s more than just decoration. It’s a tool! Curator: Precisely! And that tool could disseminate ideas, shape aesthetics, and even influence social structures. Food for thought, isn't it?