Letter P with Sts. Paul and Peter 15th-16th century

Editor: This is a small woodcut print called "Letter P with Sts. Paul and Peter" by an anonymous artist. It has this very detailed, almost medieval feel to it. What strikes me is the use of objects within the letterform itself. How do you interpret this work? Curator: The letter P, here, becomes a vessel. Notice the keys held by St. Peter – a symbol of papal authority and access to heaven. What other symbols resonate for you? Editor: I see the sword, which I assume is a reference to St. Paul, and some kind of lamp. They seem to be acting as symbols of the figures represented, and how they are remembered. Curator: Precisely. The images act as cultural memory, instantly recognizable iconography that reinforced religious narratives. The lamp, an early reference to their influence and illumination? Editor: Thinking about it that way helps me understand the lasting power of these symbols. Curator: Indeed, these images become embedded in our collective consciousness.