Initial L c. 16th century

Curator: Looking at this tiny woodcut, this "Initial L" as it's called, it almost feels like staring into a miniature, ancient world. Editor: Yes, a world rendered in stark black and white, quite primitive. I'm drawn to the letterform itself, almost like a stylized throne for these figures. Curator: I think it's more like the letter becomes a character itself, intertwined with those little creatures! They look like something out of a medieval bestiary. I wonder if the artist was having fun with it? Editor: Possibly, but I see also how the dense hatching creates a sense of depth within such a confined space. The anonymous artist really maximized the contrast and visual interest. Curator: You know, thinking about it, perhaps that's why I like it so much—that tension between the rigid, formal letter and the wild, imaginative creatures that populate it. Editor: Right, a fascinating tension. It's more than just decoration. Curator: Exactly. A tiny world of playful rebellion. Editor: Yes, quite memorable.