Letter I c. 16th century

Curator: Look at this block print, simply titled "Letter I," from an unknown artist. It presents an initial “I” embraced by stylized floral motifs. The whole piece is contained within a crisp, rectangular border. Editor: It feels delicate but firm, almost like a tiny garden gate. I wonder, who was this "I" meant for, and what statements about identity or faith were they trying to make? Curator: The printmaking process itself interests me—conceive of the labor, the carving, the inking, and the pressing—a reproducible image that speaks to accessibility and the dissemination of information. Editor: And who had access? Was this part of a larger illuminated manuscript, hinting at wealth and privilege, or could it be a single page meant to empower a marginalized voice? Curator: It’s a potent reminder that every single mark, every single flower, holds history and potential meaning within the constraints of its materiality. Editor: Indeed, even the seemingly simple form of a letter can hold profound weight when we consider the identities and stories intertwined with it.