Introduction to Epistles of Paul; translated by Martin Luther; Wittenberg; 1538. 1538

Curator: Looking at this book cover, I’m struck by its quiet, almost monastic feel. Simple brown paper, fibers visible, like a humble cloak for something precious. Editor: Indeed. This is the cover for “Introduction to Epistles of Paul,” translated by Martin Luther and printed in Wittenberg in 1538, with designs by Lucas Cranach the Elder. Curator: Cranach! So much more than just a simple book cover. The weight of the Reformation, the shift in religious thought... do you feel that in this unassuming texture? Editor: Absolutely. Brown, the color of earth, of humility. The fibrous texture speaks to the hand-made, the personal connection to the Word. It’s a powerful statement of accessibility. Curator: It's strange to see such earthiness applied to something so revolutionary. It’s like saying, "Here it is, plain and simple truth." Editor: Perhaps that was Cranach's aim. Visualizing complex ideas in a simple, unpretentious manner, that spoke volumes. Curator: I suppose, in the end, even revolutions start with a single, humble page.