Aldus Manutius c. 16th century

Curator: Well, isn't this just lovely? "Aldus Manutius," a title page, printed in Venice, 1575. The artist is anonymous, but the spirit...the spirit of Renaissance scholarship practically sings from the page. Editor: It's quite striking! My immediate reaction is how the portrait seems trapped, almost suffocated by the rigid text above and below. Does the weight of language imprison this man? Curator: Oh, that’s a thought. Maybe it's just a humble tribute. Aldus was a printer, a scholar, a publisher! He basically invented the modern book. Editor: True, but who decides what gets printed and what doesn't? Who controls access to knowledge? The act of publishing is inherently political, isn't it? Curator: Of course, access is everything. But I think this is more about reverence. Editor: I suppose...it's compelling, though, how a seemingly simple title page can spark so many questions about power and representation. Curator: Yes! And, ultimately, about the enduring power of words.