Letter M c. 16th century

Curator: This woodcut, titled "Letter M," comes from an anonymous artist. It’s housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. The initial impression is striking, isn't it? Editor: Yes, the stark black and white, the bustling scene contained within the letter form, it’s quite intriguing. It feels almost medieval in its symbolism. Curator: The imagery, a hunting scene, begs the question: What audience was this intended for? Was this a commentary on class and leisure? What did the hunt represent? Editor: Perhaps the letter serves as a framing device to explore societal power dynamics, particularly the relationship between humans and nature. The hunt can be interpreted as a representation of domination. Curator: The letter "M" itself could hold further symbolic weight, acting as a subtle marker of identity or a specific cultural context that has unfortunately been lost to time. Editor: Indeed, and thinking about its place within a larger alphabet, how might the meaning shift depending on the words it helps to create? Curator: It is thought-provoking to consider how our understanding of such an object can be influenced by the societal, political, and historical events that informed its creation. Editor: Absolutely. And that's the magic—uncovering layers of meaning within a seemingly simple image.