Initial I c. 16th century

Editor: This is "Initial I," by an anonymous artist. It's hard to miss the botanical details surrounding the letter; it looks like woodblock printing, which feels very tactile. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: The materiality is key here. Consider the labor involved in carving that block, and how that process contrasts with mass-produced typography today. How does the handmade aspect affect our perception of literacy and knowledge? Editor: So, it's less about the letter itself and more about what it represents in terms of production and knowledge sharing? Curator: Exactly! Think about who had access to literacy and how this single letter, replicated, served as a tool for disseminating information and shaping culture through printed materials. Editor: I never thought about the social implications of a single letter before. Thanks for shedding light on that! Curator: It's amazing how much history is embedded in the material culture around us.