Letter E c. 16th century

Editor: This small, unsigned woodcut titled "Letter E," currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums, presents a winged figure amidst foliage. It’s quite detailed for its size, but also feels somewhat unsettling. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, these illuminated letters were often incorporated into early printed texts, serving a decorative and functional purpose. The imagery blends classical motifs, like the cupid-like figure, with the emerging power of the printing press. How do you think the mass production of imagery like this changed the role of art in society? Editor: It allowed for wider distribution, democratizing art, but perhaps also diminishing its perceived value? Thank you, that's insightful! Curator: Indeed! It’s a fascinating shift in the social and economic landscape of art.