Letter B in een omlijsting met een vogel 17th century

This is an initial, letter B in a frame with a bird, made by an anonymous artist. The ornamental 'B', alive with flourishes and a bird, speaks to the cultural significance of literacy and illuminated manuscripts. Think about who had access to the written word. The Church? The aristocracy? How did that shape the stories that were told, and whose voices were amplified or silenced? This image makes me consider the power dynamics inherent in language and representation. Who gets to write history, and whose stories are deemed important enough to be preserved? It reminds us that even something as simple as a letter can be a carrier of cultural values.