Piece I c. 16th century

Curator: This is “Piece I,” an anonymous work housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like a fragment from a medieval manuscript—something illuminated, dark and whimsical. Curator: Observe the rigid symmetry: the birds, perhaps mythical, flanking a stylized flower. The heavy, deliberate lines are quite striking. Editor: Those birds have a real energy! They remind me of gargoyles, protectors. The flower is like a small beacon of hope between them. Curator: The composition, built on strict mirroring, uses its form to evoke deeper symbolic meaning, with its dark tones hinting at something hidden. Editor: Totally. It’s a tiny world, full of secrets. Makes you want to write stories about the characters. Curator: A simple yet powerful work. I appreciate its formal boldness. Editor: It’s the kind of thing that lingers in your mind. I can’t help but wonder about the artist.