Initial O c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have "Initial O," created by an anonymous artist. It looks like a block print. The textures are really striking. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, consider the means of production. Block printing allowed for the rapid, relatively inexpensive reproduction of images and text. How might this impact literacy and the spread of ideas? Editor: So, it's less about the aesthetic and more about the function? Curator: Not entirely. Think about the labor involved. Someone carved this block. The image itself becomes secondary to the materiality and the social context of its creation. Editor: That's a completely different way of looking at it. It makes me appreciate the craft a lot more. Curator: Exactly! The consumption and distribution are equally critical.