Letter H c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have "Letter H" by an anonymous artist, residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s such an ornate letter. What stories do you think this initial might tell? Curator: Well, initial letters like this often functioned as portals into larger narratives. Consider the figure within: is it male or female? What does their gaze suggest about the intended reader’s position? Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way. It challenges traditional gender roles. Curator: Precisely! And what about the bird perched atop the book? Is it a symbol of wisdom, or perhaps a commentary on the silencing of certain voices within knowledge systems? Editor: So, it’s more than just decoration, but a statement on power and knowledge. Thanks! Curator: Exactly! It makes you wonder who was included, and excluded, from literacy and learning at the time.