Letter S c. 16th century

Curator: What strikes me immediately about this image is the dynamic interplay of black and white. The density of lines creates a tactile depth. Editor: This is Anton Woensam von Worms’s woodcut, "Letter S," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Considering that it was made before 1500, it's interesting to think about the social context of literacy and the decorative importance placed on even a single letter. Curator: The figure emerging from the letterform is quite compelling. Notice how the lines accentuate its volume and sense of movement. It almost feels trapped or emerging, doesn’t it? Editor: Perhaps it’s symbolic of the constraints, or indeed the possibilities, that language and systems of communication place upon the individual. Curator: It’s a powerful visualization of transformation. It speaks to the very essence of the letter as a signifier—always evolving, always in flux. Editor: An interesting point, emphasizing the inherent instability within seemingly fixed structures. Curator: Indeed. A reminder that even something as fundamental as the alphabet carries within it a capacity for change. Editor: A fitting end to our meditation on this small but provocative woodcut.