Letter B c. 15th century

Editor: This is a woodcut print of the letter "B," simply titled Letter B. It's by an anonymous artist and housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It has this cool, almost medieval vibe to it. What leaps out at you? Curator: You know, it feels like a secret code, doesn't it? The letter B, but also this dense, almost overgrown ornamentation. I think of monks illuminating manuscripts, each letter a universe. There’s a tactile quality even though it’s a print. What do you make of the stark black and white? Editor: I see the contrast making it bold, but what does that say about the message? Curator: Perhaps that even something as simple as a letter can be powerful. It’s a reminder that communication itself can be art, don’t you think? Editor: Yeah, totally. I guess I never really thought of letters as art before. Curator: Me neither, until just now!