Initial I c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have "Initial I," an anonymous piece from Harvard Art Museums. The stark contrast between the black ink and the white of the initial gives it a very striking graphic quality. What jumps out at you when you look at it? Curator: Well, aside from the beautifully rendered floral details, I am struck by how this small initial encapsulates the dawn of printing and the democratization of knowledge. It's a tiny window into a world on the cusp of radical change. It's like holding a seed containing a forest. Editor: A seed containing a forest – I like that. It's amazing how much history can be packed into such a small space. Curator: Indeed! It makes you wonder about the unseen stories it holds, doesn’t it?