Letter C c. 16th century

Editor: This striking initial, the Letter C, is an anonymous work at the Harvard Art Museums. I’m intrigued by the density of the design. What stands out to you? Curator: The printing process itself is key. Consider the labor: the carving of the block, the inking, the pressing. How does the repeated use of this initial affect its value as a commodity? Is it high art or craft? Editor: That's a great point, because it makes me think of distribution now. It's function exceeds its aesthetic. Curator: Precisely. We must challenge the boundaries of art through material analysis. Editor: I'm starting to see how the means of production becomes central to the work's meaning. Curator: Exactly!