Letter F c. 18th century

Curator: This intriguing piece, simply titled "Letter F," is an anonymous work held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The density of line work creates such a dramatic, almost theatrical mood, doesn’t it? The border also feels very deliberate. Curator: Indeed. The letter is personified by what appears to be a nun, holding an illuminated object, perhaps speaking to religious female agency and visibility within a patriarchal structure. The cross suggests a tension. Editor: Semiotically, the "F" becomes more than just a letter. It intersects the figure, literally shaping and being shaped by her form and the symbol of the cross. Curator: Certainly, and in the context of anonymous creation, the work hints at the often-erased contributions of women in religious and artistic spheres. Editor: The way form and figure interact here really makes you think about the interplay of image and text. Curator: Absolutely, this small letter holds an entire world within its lines.