Initial c. 16th century

Editor: This small woodcut, "Initial," is by an anonymous artist. It's so graphic with its black and white contrast! How do you interpret the relationship between the letter and the surrounding foliage? Curator: The way the leaves and letter ‘N’ intertwine creates a sense of organic unity. It’s as if the alphabet itself springs from nature, wouldn't you say? Perhaps it speaks to the origins of knowledge or the illuminated manuscript tradition, where each page was a garden of ideas. What do you think it might have been used for? Editor: Maybe a book illustration? I never considered the garden of ideas aspect before! Curator: Exactly! It's quite fun to think about, and so cool how a simple initial can bloom into so much.