Initial D c. 16th century

Editor: This is "Initial D," an anonymous print from the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small block print of the letter D. What do you see in this piece, beyond the obvious letterform? Curator: It's fascinating how a simple letter can be so laden with meaning! Consider the historical context. In a world before mass literacy, illuminated initials weren’t just decorative; they were powerful symbols of access to knowledge, often controlled by religious and political elites. Editor: So, the initial “D” wasn't just a letter? Curator: Exactly. It signified privilege, power, and the very act of enunciation—who gets to speak, whose stories are told. What stories might this "D" have introduced? How does its starkness challenge our romantic notions of illuminated manuscripts? Editor: That really changes how I see this. Thanks!