Letter Q c. 16th century

Curator: Look closely at "Letter Q", an intriguing initial by an anonymous hand, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. What’s your take? Editor: It feels medieval, almost alchemical. Darkly whimsical, I'd say. And dense! Curator: Absolutely dense. It seems to be created with a woodcut, the lines are remarkably crisp and deliberate. Editor: I imagine a craftsman, sleeves rolled up, painstakingly carving away at the woodblock to produce this "Q"... It’s about labor, isn't it? Transforming raw material. Curator: Yes! And think about the centaur nestled within—a creature of myth straddling worlds. A bit like us, wrestling with earthly materials to shape something ethereal. Editor: So true. It grounds the letter, gives it weight, even as the swirling leaves and that fantastic beast lift it into another realm. Curator: A strange but compelling little universe contained in a single letter! Editor: I see craftsmanship, myth, and a touch of chaos. A potent combination, wouldn't you agree?