Initial H c. 16th century

Curator: This woodcut, titled "Initial H," anonymous as it is, speaks volumes. The bold contrast! Editor: It has a stark, immediate feel. The black ink dominates, almost swallowing the negative space of the letter itself. I wonder about the printmaking process. Curator: Yes, the execution is striking. But consider also the 'H' itself, the gateway to words like 'hope,' 'history,' or even 'heaven.' The surrounding foliage suggests growth, abundance, perhaps even paradise. Editor: I'm more interested in the labor involved. Each cut into the wood, meticulously planned. How many impressions were made? What was the paper like when it was new? Curator: The paper, the ink—mere vessels for the symbolic power imbued within. Think of illuminated manuscripts, the weight of tradition carried by each letter. Editor: Or think of the economics—the democratization of text, made possible by reproducible images. Curator: Perhaps both readings are true. Symbols persist because their meanings are embodied, materially and intellectually. Editor: Agreed. Looking at it materially and symbolically helps us see more fully.