Initial I c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have "Initial I," an anonymous artwork from Harvard Art Museums. It's all in black and white and features a letter 'I' interwoven with foliage. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: Well, my eye is immediately drawn to the contrast. It's so stark! The artist uses botanical motifs to create a sense of contained wildness, like a secret garden blooming within the letterform itself. What letter would you choose, if you could? Editor: Oh, that's a great question! Maybe 'M' because I love mountains and it would give me such range of forms. This little glimpse into the past is a cool way to think about art. Curator: Exactly! Each letter holds a story!