Initial D c. 16th century

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to “Initial D,” an intriguing print from an anonymous artist currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Oh, my! It feels lifted straight from the illuminated pages of a medieval manuscript, all sharp lines and swirling mystery. Curator: Precisely! Notice the dense interlace of foliage and animal forms filling the void within the letter 'D.' The composition obeys a rigorous symmetry. Editor: Those creatures inside... are they birds? Dragons? Maybe a bit of both? They give the letter such a whimsical, fierce energy. Curator: The stark contrast between the black ink and the off-white paper amplifies the formal tension, resulting in a visual spectacle. Editor: It really does invite you into another world, doesn’t it? You almost forget it's just one letter, a fragment. Curator: Indeed, and its very incompleteness is, ironically, part of its power. Editor: Well, I feel suitably illuminated by this little 'D' of delights. Curator: I agree, a fascinating interplay of form and fancy to contemplate.