Letter V c. 16th century

Editor: This woodcut, "Letter V," by an anonymous artist, seems to depict a saint playing a harp within the letterform. The composition feels very symbolic. What social narratives do you see at play here? Curator: Considering it's a letter, we need to think about literacy and access to knowledge. The saint, likely representing virtue, is framed by the letter, but also by instruments of power: the organ and her harp. What does it mean when knowledge and virtue are gatekept? Editor: That's a compelling point about gatekeeping. So, the letter itself becomes a symbol of restricted access. Curator: Precisely. And we have to question, who is being excluded from this visual and intellectual space? What ideologies are being reinforced? Editor: I never would have considered that perspective! Thanks, this has given me so much to think about. Curator: It’s crucial to remember that even something as seemingly simple as a letter can embody complex power dynamics.