Leave IV c. 16th century

Editor: This piece, "Leave IV," is an anonymous work from an unknown date, held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's handwritten text, very formal. What do you make of it? Curator: Well, seeing script like this, I immediately consider the role of literacy and power. Who had access to writing, and what socio-political messages were they crafting through it? Editor: Interesting! It feels very exclusive, doesn't it? Is it meant for public consumption? Curator: Perhaps not in the way we understand "public" today. Think of the elite circles, learned societies, or religious institutions that may have commissioned or consumed such a document. What purpose did its circulation serve? Editor: I see, it shifts the perspective, from individual enjoyment to a tool within a specific social framework. Thanks.