Letter A c. 16th century

Editor: So, here we have this charmingly tiny woodcut, "Letter A," by an anonymous artist. It's so small, just a few inches, and yet the detail is incredible! It feels almost medieval to me. What do you make of it? Curator: It is rather enchanting, isn't it? I’m immediately drawn to the tension between the rigidity of the letterform and the fluid, almost unruly, floral motifs intertwined within. It makes me wonder about the artist’s intentions – were they celebrating order or perhaps hinting at the wildness contained within structure? Editor: I hadn't thought about that tension. So, it's not just decorative? Curator: Oh, I doubt anything truly is *just* decorative! Every choice, every line, whispers a story. It is an intriguing piece that invites us to imagine its origins and the hands that meticulously brought it into being. I've learned something new today! Editor: Me too! I'll never look at an initial the same way again.