Initial D c. 16th century

Curator: This is "Initial D" by an anonymous artist. You can find this intriguing piece at the Harvard Art Museums. What are your initial impressions? Editor: Well, the elaborate detail packed into such a small space strikes me first. It's almost unsettling with those grotesque mask-like faces peering out from within the letter. Curator: Indeed. These initial letters were very common in printed books, weren’t they? Consider the shift from hand-illuminated manuscripts to mass-produced texts. This letter signals a change. Editor: Right. And it raises questions about accessibility and power, doesn’t it? Who had access to these books? Whose stories were being told, and whose were being left out? Those faces – are they meant to intimidate, or to simply signify authority? Curator: A lot to consider indeed. Thanks for helping us to delve into this fascinating initial. Editor: My pleasure. It's a potent reminder of the narratives embedded in even the smallest artistic choices.