Border c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have a collection of ornamental "Border" designs, date unknown, by an anonymous artist, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. The detailing is just exquisite! What strikes you most when you look at these? Curator: Oh, the sheer exuberance! It’s like the artist was utterly possessed by the joy of ornamentation. I imagine them, quill in hand, lost in a reverie of swirling vines and fantastical creatures. Don't you think there's a sort of controlled chaos here? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way! I was so focused on the detail, I missed the bigger picture. Curator: It's easy to do! It's like life, isn't it? Sometimes you’re so busy counting the leaves, you forget you’re in a forest. The beauty of these borders is that they remind us that even the smallest embellishment can be an act of rebellion against the mundane. Editor: That gives me a totally new perspective. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It's all about letting your imagination run wild, like the artist did.