Initial R c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have the "Initial R", a small, undated print by an anonymous artist. It has a decorative quality, like something you'd find embellishing a page. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Consider the historical context. In a pre-mass media era, these illuminated initials served a crucial function. How do you think they shaped literacy and access to knowledge? Editor: I guess they made learning more engaging, perhaps for a privileged few. Curator: Precisely. These weren't just aesthetic choices. The patronage, the production, the very dissemination of these images reflected and reinforced existing power structures. What do you make of that? Editor: So it's not just decoration, but a statement about who controlled information at the time. I never thought about it like that! Curator: Exactly, and that’s the power of looking beyond the surface.