Letter V c. 16th century

Editor: This is Hans Holbein the Younger’s "Letter V," a black and white woodcut. It looks like it's part of an alphabet series. What strikes me is how this one letter contains such a complex scene of a man in contemplation. What do you make of this image? Curator: Considering the context of the Reformation, Holbein’s work invites us to contemplate not just individual piety, but the role of education and literacy in empowering individuals to interpret religious texts for themselves. How does the imagery contribute to the politicization of the everyday? Editor: That makes me consider the tension between individual understanding and established authority, especially with the figure’s apparent melancholy. Thanks for expanding my understanding! Curator: It's through connecting historical events to these intimate visual details that we can truly unlock the power of art.