Letter L c. 15th century

Editor: This is an anonymous woodcut initial, "Letter L," from the Harvard Art Museums. It's so intricate! What does it tell us about the labor involved in its creation? Curator: The density of the black ink suggests a laborious process. Consider the craftsman meticulously carving away at the woodblock. The pressure, the repeated cuts to achieve that clean, white 'L' against the black ground. It speaks of skilled labor, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. And the floral motifs – were these common in printing at the time? Curator: Yes, such decoration aimed to elevate printed matter beyond mere functionality, closer to fine art, and accessible to a broader market. The question is, how did the availability of such prints affect manuscript illumination? Editor: That's something to think about. Thanks!