Initial P c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have Initial P, an undated woodcut initial from an anonymous artist, held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's so intricate! What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: The material construction here is key. Note the labour-intensive woodcutting. This wasn't “high art” necessarily, but a commodity produced for a market, democratizing imagery. Consider the social context: how many hands were involved in producing and distributing this single letter? Editor: That's fascinating! So, it's more about the means of production than artistic expression? Curator: Precisely! It challenges the traditional hierarchy. The value isn't just aesthetic; it's embedded in the materiality and the system that enabled its creation. Food for thought, isn't it? Editor: Definitely. I'll never look at initials the same way again!