Initial E c. 15th century

Editor: So this is Initial E, by an anonymous artist. It's a really striking black and white image. I am curious about the figures, and the letter, of course. What do you make of this piece? Curator: Well, it invites us to consider the power structures embedded within literacy and access to knowledge. The ornamental letter, adorned with cherubs and a heraldic bird, speaks to a history where literacy was a privilege, closely tied to wealth and power. Do you think the choice of imagery reinforces or challenges those boundaries? Editor: It feels almost mocking, like these playful figures are subverting the seriousness we usually associate with the written word. I hadn't thought about literacy itself being a form of power. Curator: Exactly. And the anonymity of the artist further complicates the narrative. It's a beautiful piece that prompts us to question who gets to create, who gets to learn, and whose stories get told. Editor: That's a compelling perspective. I see the piece so differently now! Curator: It’s about looking beyond the surface, and interrogating the historical and social frameworks that shape our understanding.