Letter L c. 16th century

Curator: What strikes me first is the sheer density of detail, like a secret garden crammed into the shape of an "L." Editor: This is "Letter L," a work from an anonymous artist, currently residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Curator: It feels almost medieval, doesn't it? I can imagine it gracing the beginning of some important illuminated manuscript. Editor: Well, the use of such decorated initials speaks to a very specific cultural moment. These sorts of images were frequently used to denote not just text, but power. It also makes me wonder about the act of inscribing, of printing, of mass production. Curator: Yes, a single letter becoming a whole world. It’s kind of lovely to think about how much intention and care can be put into something so small. Editor: Indeed! It's a reminder that even the most functional things can be imbued with meaning and beauty.