Head- or Tail-piece c. 16th century

Editor: This small, anonymous print, "Head- or Tail-piece," shows a basket overflowing with flowers. It feels like a celebration of abundance. What stories do you think this image might tell? Curator: Well, prints like these were often used to mark beginnings or endings of texts. Considering its potential placement, how might this image serve as a commentary on the stories it frames? Think about who had access to literacy and leisure in the period this was likely created, and what messages a floral arrangement might convey about class or gender. Editor: So, it's not just about the flowers themselves but about who gets to enjoy them, and what stories are considered worth telling? Curator: Precisely. It encourages us to question whose voices and perspectives are centered within the narratives. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. Curator: Art can do that, it challenges us.