Letter S c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have "Letter S", an intriguing piece from an anonymous artist, currently residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Well, it's just delightfully…ornate! Like something you'd find decorating a medieval manuscript. A dense, teeming world contained in a single letter. Curator: Exactly! Notice how the letterform itself is almost secondary to the foliage intertwined within. It’s a vessel for symbolic meaning, a garden blooming with potential. Editor: It feels like a secret code, a visual language whispered from the past. All those little dots, they remind me of constellations. Curator: Indeed, alphabets weren't just tools for text; they were imbued with mystical properties, acting as gateways to deeper understanding. This S seems almost to be summoning something. Editor: I can feel that summon, very playful! This tiny artifact has quite a lot to say. Curator: It serves as a small reminder that even the most familiar forms can hold layers of hidden meaning. Editor: A tiny seed, grown large in our minds.