Letter D c. 15th century

Curator: This is "Letter D," an anonymous work from the Harvard Art Museums. It's a striking woodcut! Editor: It's intense! The black lines are so sharp, and the faces in the letter feel very... watchful. Curator: The materiality of woodcuts speaks volumes. Think about the craft: the artist carving away at the wood, a labor-intensive process for what was likely mass production. Editor: Absolutely, and considering it's an initial letter, likely for a printed book, this makes me think about literacy, access to information, and how this image could have been broadly disseminated. Curator: The turbaned figure is intriguing too. His representation and placement within the “D” tell us so much about cultural exchange and image politics. Editor: It’s amazing how much information is contained in this small block. I’m left thinking about the power of the printed image in shaping perceptions. Curator: Yes, from process to politics, this "Letter D" offers a fascinating glimpse into its historical moment.