Letter D c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have "Letter D," an anonymous print from the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small, square format—but densely packed with detail. Editor: It immediately evokes a sense of illuminated manuscripts; the kind of visual authority early printing aspired to. Curator: Note the stark contrast of black and white. The letterform itself is defined by its negative space, a brilliant inversion. The floral motifs within, while decorative, also create a sense of rhythmic movement. Editor: The image's impact surely depended on its placement within a larger printed work. Was it meant to elevate or democratize? How did such images affect literacy? Curator: Such questions are fascinating, but let's not lose sight of the graphic power itself. The interplay of textures, the almost hypnotic repetition—it achieves a remarkable visual harmony. Editor: Precisely, it’s a dialogue between art, power and the written word, still echoing today.