Letter V c. 16th century

Editor: This is "Letter V," artist unknown. Each letter seems to be a small, meticulously crafted world. What strikes you about it? Curator: The anonymity is telling. Consider the historical context: illuminated letters were often collaborative, existing within a rigid hierarchy. The individual artist's identity was often subsumed. What does that say about authorship and artistic freedom? Editor: So, it’s less about individual expression and more about collective practice? Curator: Precisely. And what sociopolitical forces might have shaped that dynamic? It prompts us to examine power structures and the value placed on individual versus collective labor. Food for thought, isn’t it?