Letters P and E, after French Gothic manuscript

Editor: This is Martin Mower’s piece “Letters P and E, after French Gothic manuscript.” I’m struck by the delicate, almost ethereal quality of the ink and watercolor. How do you approach understanding a piece like this? Curator: I look at the materials first. The use of ink and watercolor suggests a focus on accessibility. It speaks to a system of production. It invites questions about who had access to these techniques, and the social context surrounding the creation of illuminated manuscripts. Editor: So, you’re seeing the materials as clues to understanding the art’s role within a larger system? Curator: Precisely! What was the labor involved in preparing these pigments? Who was the intended audience? Exploring these questions anchors the artwork to the tangible world. Editor: That’s given me a new appreciation for the piece as more than just decoration, but as part of a cultural and material network. Curator: Indeed! It is so interesting to realize the means of creation and consumption.