Letter S c. 16th century

Editor: This is “Letter S,” by an anonymous artist. I find its detail and use of negative space really striking. How would you contextualize its presence in the Harvard Art Museums? Curator: Considering its form, it probably served as part of a larger printed text. Examining the institutional history, we might ask: how does a fragment like this come to be considered a work of art worthy of museum display, rather than a discarded piece of a larger whole? Editor: That's a great point. Does its display change our perception of its original purpose? Curator: Absolutely. Placing it in a museum elevates its status, transforming it from a functional element into a collectible artifact, imbued with new layers of meaning. What do you think the impact of that elevation might be? Editor: I think it's definitely something to consider moving forward. Thanks for your perspective!