Letter C 1572

Curator: Here we have an intriguing woodcut, simply titled "Letter C," from an anonymous artist. The black and white contrast is striking. Editor: It feels very contained, doesn't it? The tight hatching, the way the figure is nestled *inside* the letter. It gives me a sense of claustrophobia, almost. Curator: The letter itself is a container for a narrative. This could be Cain, consumed by remorse for his sin, the serpent coiled around him a symbol of temptation or guilt. Editor: The weight of the lines, though, they seem less about symbolic representation and more about creating texture and volume. See how the artist uses the cross-hatching to suggest depth? Curator: But even that depth serves the allegory! The weight presses down, visually echoing the spiritual burden. Editor: Perhaps. It's a dense image, regardless. I am glad to look closely. Curator: Indeed, its small scale belies a wealth of interpretation.