Letter T c. 16th century

Curator: This is Letter T, an intriguing piece from an anonymous artist, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression? It's like a garden gate, something between rigid structure and wild, flourishing growth. Curator: Absolutely. Look at the contrast between the stark lines of the "T" and the swirling, organic embellishments. It's a fascinating interplay. Editor: It feels almost alchemical. The rigid letter form is being softened, dissolved even, by the sheer exuberance of ornamentation. Do you think this was meant to be just decorative, or something more profound? Curator: Probably both. The labor involved in creating the block for print suggests a valuing of craft. What was seen as ornament, it was also creating value. Editor: I see it, yes. A lot of work went into this small image, and for me, it's just so fun to get lost in these wild vines around the letter. Curator: For me, it's the tension between form and embellishment that really captivates. Editor: And, for me, it's just pure joy.