Letter E c. 16th century

Curator: This is an intriguing, unsigned piece titled "Letter E," currently held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It’s wonderfully dense; the contrast between the letter and the swirling floral background makes it seem like the letter is trying to break free. Curator: Yes, the interplay of figure and ground is quite compelling. The letter itself is a study in stability, contrasting sharply with the organic, almost chaotic, ornamentation. Editor: I love the implied movement, the way the vines and leaves seem to crawl around the solid form of the E. It makes me wonder what the anonymous artist was thinking. Curator: Perhaps exploring the tension between order and nature, structure and freedom. Editor: Maybe. Or maybe they just really liked the letter E! Either way, it’s a little world to get lost in. Curator: Precisely, a microcosm of artistic possibilities contained within a single letter.