Letter E c. 18th century

Curator: Isn't this "Letter E" print from the Harvard Art Museums just delightful? There's something so whimsical about the figures intertwined with the letterform. Editor: Whimsical, yes, but I see encoded within this initial letter a social hierarchy. The figure on the left, elevated, bears the wreath, while the right holds what looks like a pointer toward a garden. Curator: I love that you see power dynamics; I just see a sweet dance between form and figure! The anonymous artist created such an intriguing little world. I wonder what stories they imagined for these tiny characters. Editor: Perhaps the stories of privilege and labor. The letter itself becomes a boundary, shaping roles and expectations. Curator: Well, whichever story it tells, it tells it beautifully. It's a reminder that even something as simple as a letter can hold layers of meaning. Editor: Indeed. This "Letter E" prompts us to examine the very frameworks that define our understanding.