Letter C c. 16th century

Editor: This small, anonymous print, simply titled "Letter C," is densely packed with floral and vine-like ornamentation. The black and white contrast is striking. How can we interpret this letter within a broader historical and social context? Curator: The initial "C" functions as more than mere decoration; it's a signifier of power, privilege, and perhaps even control, historically wielded by those who could read and write. Consider the labor, often obscured, that went into producing these intricate designs for a select audience. Editor: So, the letter itself becomes a symbol of social stratification and limited access. The floral imagery seems to soften that reading a bit, though. Curator: Does it? Or does it simply mask it? Think about the colonial associations of certain floral motifs, how they were used to classify and control the natural world, mirroring societal power structures. Editor: That gives me a lot to consider. I'll definitely be looking at illuminated manuscripts differently now. Curator: Exactly! Questioning these seemingly innocuous designs reveals deeper truths about the world they inhabited.