Letter C c. 16th century

Editor: This is "Letter C," an anonymous work at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a stark black-and-white image, and there's something unsettling about the figures intertwined within the letter. What strikes you about the historical context of this piece? Curator: Consider how these illuminated letters were often part of larger texts, asserting authority. The grotesque figures might subvert or reinforce that power through humor or fear, depending on their patrons and audiences. Do you see any clues to its original function? Editor: Perhaps it was meant to mock authority, given the somewhat crude figures. Curator: It's possible, but we also need to consider the societal norms. What was permissible satire versus outright rebellion, and how would that influence its reception? Let's keep digging.