Letter Q c. 16th century

Curator: I see a seed of a fairy tale in this tiny block print. The letter Q, overgrown with thorny roses. Editor: It strikes me how this is so clearly a functional object. A humble little initial, likely mass-produced for some now-forgotten text. Curator: And yet, someone, somewhere, poured so much care into carving those details. The way the thorns twist, almost playful. Editor: Absolutely. The density of the black ink hints at the pressure involved. Consider the labor, the repetitive motion, the sheer volume of these that had to be made! Curator: You’re right, it's a testament to unseen hands and untold stories. Editor: And it asks us to question the divide between art and craft, doesn't it? Curator: Precisely! In this little letter Q, we find both the echo of a grand narrative and a testament to the beauty of the everyday.