Letter E c. 19th century

Curator: This is a "Letter E" by an anonymous artist, housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The intricacy is captivating, a world teeming within a single letter! It makes me think of illuminated manuscripts, but with such playful, almost pagan imagery. Curator: Indeed! Notice the ornate border, the dragon motif, the goat nestled in the upper left. It feels like a celebration of abundance, a baroque cornucopia rendered in monochrome. The "E" itself becomes a stage. Editor: And look at that seated figure—is it Pan? It's a reminder that even something as seemingly straightforward as a letter can be a site of complex cultural and historical meanings. Curator: It's a tiny universe. What an oddity! Editor: Yes, a potent reminder to always look for what hides in plain sight.