Letter M c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have an anonymous print called "Letter M," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like a woodcut. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The piece speaks to the democratization of knowledge through print. Before widespread literacy, such images served as both decorative and functional elements, influencing design and visual culture across society. Editor: So, this was less about high art and more about mass communication? Curator: Precisely. It blurs the line between art and utility, raising questions about value and audience in art history. It makes you wonder, who had access to art, and how did they use it? Editor: That’s a great way to look at it! It’s more than just a letter; it's a piece of social history.