Initial J (?) c. 16th century

Editor: This is Initial J (?), an anonymous work held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small, detailed image featuring a griffin intertwined with the letter "J." What can you tell us about its cultural significance? Curator: Well, consider the context. The use of illuminated initials was common in medieval manuscripts, performing a vital function. What do you think about who might have been its intended audience and how they would have viewed it? Editor: I imagine it was created for wealthy patrons or religious institutions, perhaps used to mark important passages in a book. How would this influence how we should view this artwork now, divorced from its intended context? Curator: Exactly. We must consider its original function as a marker of authority and knowledge, and then consider how the museum setting reshapes its meaning and value for a contemporary public. Museums often elevate utilitarian objects into objects of art. Editor: That's a fascinating shift. It makes me think about how our perception is always framed by the context in which we encounter art. Curator: Precisely. And how the politics of display play a role in shaping our understanding.