Letter A c. 16th century

Curator: Here at the Harvard Art Museums, we have "Letter A," a decorative initial of unknown origin. It immediately makes me think of secret societies and ancient knowledge. Editor: The process of its creation, perhaps a woodcut or engraving, speaks to a tradition where labor and skill were intrinsically valued. The material, the ink, the paper—all part of a wider network. Curator: Absolutely, and look at the floral and geometric patterns woven around it. It's less about the "A" itself, and more about creating an atmosphere. Doesn’t it feel like stumbling upon an illuminated manuscript in a dusty library? Editor: I'm drawn to consider what messages are hidden within those very patterns, what labor or messages are being conveyed, and how the "high art" of calligraphy interplays with the craft of printmaking. Curator: Thinking about its original purpose, I wonder if it was meant to mark the beginning of something grand or something much more mundane. Editor: It does make one ponder the meaning of the letter itself!