Letter D: Two Babies, One with a Banner the Other with a Staff c. 16th century

Curator: This tiny woodblock, "Letter D: Two Babies, One with a Banner the Other with a Staff," comes to us from Hans Holbein the Younger. Editor: It's remarkably detailed for something so small, almost claustrophobic with its density. Curator: Holbein crafted these kinds of initial letters for printed books. Imagine the labor involved in carving such detail into such a tiny block. Editor: It's interesting how the letterform serves as a compositional element, framing and almost containing the figures and foliage within. I wonder how readers back then perceived these decorated initials—did they see them as mere ornamentation or as integral parts of the text itself? Curator: Ornamentation certainly, but also a testament to craftsmanship. Consider the cultural value placed on such meticulous work during the early print era. Editor: Absolutely. It reflects the complex interplay between art, commerce, and literacy in shaping early modern European society. Curator: A fascinating convergence of form and function. Editor: Indeed, a tiny window onto a much larger world.