Letter S c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have an intriguing woodcut, simply titled "Letter S," by an anonymous artist and held in the collections of the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s fascinating, isn't it? My first thought is, wow, what a moody "S"! It feels heavy, burdened somehow. So much is happening within that single letter. Curator: Yes, this belongs to a tradition of decorated initial letters, often found at the beginning of chapters in early printed books. The "S" encloses scenes of people struggling, carrying others, under a rather grim sky. Editor: Right, that grim sky! Those swirling, almost angry clouds amplify the feeling of hardship. You can almost feel the weight the figures are carrying, the strain in their bodies. Curator: It's interesting how such a small, functional piece reflects broader societal anxieties. These images often played into established visual languages around labor, morality, and divine judgment. Editor: Exactly, it's like a tiny stage for human drama, all compressed into a single letter! Amazing how much emotion an anonymous artist managed to pack into such a confined space. Curator: Indeed, a testament to the power of imagery to convey complex ideas even within seemingly simple forms. Editor: Makes you wonder what other stories lie hidden in the alphabet.