Initial R c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have an “Initial R,” an anonymous work held in the Harvard Art Museums. It strikes me as stark, yet decorative. Editor: The weight of the letterform, the contrast of black and white, is immediate, isn't it? The flora winding around the ‘R’ feels like an assertion of life intertwined with language. Curator: Absolutely. Initial letters like these were the gateways to knowledge, invitations into sacred texts. This particular 'R', however, feels somewhat austere. Editor: Considering the likely religious context, that austerity could be a deliberate choice. Simplicity amplifying the message, rather than distracting from it. Its likely function as the introduction to a religious passage or important manuscript would make its starkness very impactful. Curator: Precisely, its power lies in that balance. And it reminds us how even a single letter can become a vessel for cultural memory. Editor: Indeed, a reminder of how visual culture shapes our reading, and understanding, of the world.