Letter S c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have "Letter S," an anonymous print from the Harvard Art Museums. It immediately strikes me with its dense ornamentation and fine linework. Editor: My first thought goes to the cultural power embedded in literacy. Who had access to these beautifully crafted letters, and what doors did they open? Curator: The process of creating these illuminated letters involves skilled artisans and meticulous labor. Think about the woodcutting techniques, the precision, and the time invested. Editor: Exactly, and what about the visual language employed here? We see the cherub, the stylized foliage...these symbols weren't neutral, they conveyed status and ideals. Curator: Absolutely. The materiality of the print itself—the paper, the ink—speaks to a specific mode of production and consumption. Editor: Yes, but it's also a symbol of exclusion. This wasn't democratic accessibility; this was carefully curated access for those already in power. Curator: Considering the labor and the embedded symbolism, it’s a striking example of the intersection of craft and power. Editor: Indeed. It forces us to confront the legacy of privilege inherent in even the smallest details of our cultural inheritance.