Initial L c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have a small woodcut print titled "Initial L," created by an anonymous artist. Editor: It’s incredibly stark—the contrast between the black ink and the white space is quite striking. It feels very deliberate and precise. Curator: The letter "L" is decorated with a stylized leafy vine. These initial letters were often used to begin chapters in books. Think about the power dynamics at play—who had access to literacy, to these beautifully adorned texts? Editor: Exactly. This wasn’t just decoration; it was a marker of privilege and control over knowledge. The initial's prominent display asserts this dominance within the text. Curator: It is quite fascinating to consider how something so small could carry such weight. Editor: It makes me think about how design, even in its smallest forms, can reinforce societal structures.