Letter C c. 16th century

Curator: The Harvard Art Museums holds this intriguing woodcut titled “Letter C,” created by an anonymous artist. Editor: It strikes me as both decorative and a bit unsettling. The stark contrast of black and white, combined with the almost grotesque face hidden within the foliage, gives it a strange tension. Curator: Indeed. Let's consider the "C" itself, historically viewed as a symbol of the moon. In this context, we could read the foliage as representing the untamed, wild aspects of nature, contrasting with the civilizing power of language. Editor: The face reminds me of ancient pagan depictions of nature gods, powerful and untamed, challenging the dominance of alphabetic order. It asks what gets sacrificed when we impose structure. Curator: Precisely. The letter becomes a site of contestation, a visual representation of the ongoing negotiation between civilization and the natural world. Editor: It’s a reminder that even the most basic elements of communication, like a single letter, are loaded with cultural and historical weight. Curator: A potent reminder that challenges us to consider the power dynamics embedded in visual language. Editor: Yes, I see now how much this seemingly simple design asks us to consider.