Letter V c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have the "Letter V," an undated print by an anonymous artist, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. The textures created by the lines and dots are quite striking, and the composition feels very balanced. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The interplay between the positive and negative space is masterful, isn't it? Notice how the black stippling both defines the letterform and creates a dense ground against which the angel and floral motifs emerge. The linear quality, too, invites a semiotic analysis. Editor: Semiotic? In what way? Curator: Consider the "V" itself. What meaning does it carry beyond its basic function as a letter? Is it a vessel, perhaps, or a visual signifier of divergence? Editor: That's interesting; I hadn't considered the symbolic implications. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: My pleasure. It is artworks like these that make our interaction with Art so appealing.