Initial D c. 16th century

Editor: This is Initial D, an anonymous piece at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a woodcut print featuring a classical figure within the letter "D". I’m curious about its purpose – what do you see in its design and imagery? Curator: These illuminated initials were often used at the beginning of chapters or important passages in books. This one reflects the rise of humanism, a classical figure placed prominently within the letter, surrounded by natural motifs, and a small animal. It signals the intellectual trends of the time. Editor: So, it’s not just decorative, but a marker of shifting intellectual interests? Curator: Exactly. The printing press democratized knowledge, and these initials, while beautiful, also broadcast cultural values and the importance of classical learning. Editor: That gives me a new appreciation for something that seemed purely ornamental before! Curator: Indeed, it's a small window into a larger cultural landscape.