Letter E c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have "Letter E," an anonymous print held at the Harvard Art Museums. It seems to be a woodcut, with a figure integrated into the letterform. What's your read on this piece? Curator: I see a fascinating intersection of labor and literacy. The woodcut process itself, a form of reproductive technology, democratized access to images and text. Consider the labor involved in carving the block. Editor: Yes, the detail is pretty intricate. Curator: Precisely, the materiality of the woodblock and the skill of the artisan are crucial. The image becomes a commodity, circulating within a specific economic and social context. What do you make of the figure? Editor: That’s a great point; it made me think about who may have used this image, and how it ended up in a museum. Curator: Exactly! Considering the broader production process gives us deeper insight into its meaning and cultural value.