Letter H c. 16th century

Editor: So, this is an anonymous piece, simply titled "Letter H," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a wonderfully ornate woodcut. What's your take on its intricate, almost wild, embellishments? Curator: For me, it whispers of illuminated manuscripts and the sheer joy found in embellishing even the most functional things. I see a garden trying to burst free from the confines of the letterform itself. Do you feel it, that tension between structure and exuberant freedom? Editor: Absolutely! I hadn't thought about it that way, but I think that tension is exactly what makes it so compelling. Curator: Indeed, and isn't it marvelous how something so simple can hold so much? I find it quite hopeful, this little H. Editor: I completely agree. It's like a tiny, blossoming world!